"Ontario supporting 2017 North American Indigenous Games"

TORONTO - Ontario is partnering with the federal government to support the 2017 North American Indigenous Games.

The eight day tournament is the largest sporting and cultural gathering of Indigenous peoples in North America.

Ontario and the federal government are each providing $3.5 million to help bring this multi-sport competition for Indigenous youth to the province next summer.

The Aboriginal Sport and Wellness Council of Ontario (ASWCO) will host the Games from July 16 to 23 in Toronto, on the shared traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation, the Huron-Wendat Nation and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and with the support of the Metis Nation of Ontario.

"ASWCO is pleased to host the 2017 North American Indigenous Games in the Greater Toronto Area for youth from across Turtle Island," said Marc Laliberte of the Aboriginal Sport and Wellness Council of Ontario. "Toronto has long been a traditional gathering place for many Indigenous Nations. We acknowledge our presence on the shared tra­ditional territories of the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation, the Huron-Wendat Nation, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and the Metis Nation of Ontario."

The Games provide In­digenous youth, aged 13 to 19, an opportunity to showcase their heritage through 14 sports and cultural events.

One of the new programs under the Sport Pathway initiative is the 2016 Ontario Aboriginal Summer Games being co-hosted by the Aboriginal Sport and Wellness Council of Ontario and Six Nations of the Grand River. The Summer Games will be the first qualifying event for the 2017 NAIG.

Minister of Aboriginal Affairs David Zimmer said, "The Games are a great opportunity for the people of Ontario and visitors from around the world to learn more about the accomplishments of Indigenous athletes and to highlight the contributions Indigenous communities have made to our shared history. We are grateful for the work of the Aboriginal Sport and Wellness Council of Ontario and Indigenous communities and organizations that will help make this event a success. We look forward to watching Ontario's Indigenous youth compete in this exciting showcase."