International Experience Canada Teams Up With Masters Indigenous Games 2018

International Experience Canada Teams Up With Masters Indigenous Games 2018

July 13, 2018 – Toronto, ON – The Masters Indigenous Games 2018 (MIG 2018) is pleased to announce International Experience Canada (IEC) as an official partner of the inaugural Games taking place July 12-15, 2018 in Toronto. The Masters Indigenous Games is the first event of its kind in Ontario and will be a showcase of Indigenous athletic achievement and a celebration of Indigenous cultures, knowledge and ways of being. Additionally, MIG 2018 provides an opportunity for a collective gathering, sharing and celebration of Indigenous Peoples and communities from around the world. The global aspect of MIG 2018 aligns well with the mandate of the International Experience Canada program, which aims to offer youth (including Canadian youth), with the opportunity to work in over 30 different countries – opening doors and expanding horizons.

“We are thrilled to have International Experience Canada as an official partner for these inaugural Masters Indigenous Games,” said Marc Laliberte, president, Aboriginal Sport and Wellness Council of Ontario. “The opportunity to support Indigenous youth by expanding the options and providing information on international opportunities available to them is tremendously important and IEC is a great program which can accomplish this. The MIG 2018 is not only about adults competing in sport and having fun, it’s also a celebration of community. Community is central to everything we do as Indigenous Peoples and it’s why we developed these Games, to ensure that communities are supported in achieving overall wellbeing.”

IEC, a program from the Government of Canada, manages youth mobility agreements between Canada and more than 30 other countries and foreign territories that facilitate work permits specifically for youth between the ages of 18 and 35. Through work and travel opportunities, IEC offers youth the chance to gain exposure to different cultures, meet new people and become global citizens while being immersed in the global work environment.

“A key component of IEC’s engagement strategy is to raise program awareness among Indigenous youth in Canada as well as Indigenous youth from IEC country partners,” said the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. “Getting international travel and work experience allows youth to immerse themselves in a different culture and develop new life skills, all while improving their employability back at home. That aligns well with the goals of the Masters Indigenous Games to celebrate Indigenous wellness and culture, while creating opportunities for personal growth and community development.”

About the Masters Indigenous Games

The Masters Indigenous Games was founded to meet the growing need for competitive sport for the aging population. The Games encourage mature individuals to be active, with the awareness that competitive sport can continue throughout life, contributing to increased health and wellness.

The inaugural Games will take place July 12-15, providing an opportunity for Indigenous adults from around the world to engage in sport competition with their peers. The Masters Indigenous Games are expected to take place every two years, and like the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG), are a celebration of both sport achievement and distinct cultural heritage.

The Masters Indigenous Games are a direct legacy of the successful Toronto 2017 NAIG which took place in the Greater Toronto Area last July.

MIG 2018 Quick Facts:

• The MIG 2018 will take place from July 12-15, 2018, with the majority of events taking place at Downsview Park located in Toronto, Ontario.
• Masters Indigenous Games 2018 (MIG 2018) will feature hundreds of participants, 300 volunteers, various contemporary (athletics, basketball, canoe, golf, softball and volleyball) and traditional sports (archery, standing kick, tug of war and teepee building).
• The Masters Indigenous Games feature global Indigenous participation.
• A Cultural Village showcasing Indigenous artists, performers, sport demonstrations, storytellers and vendors, will be located at Downsview Park. The Cultural Village is FREE and open to the public throughout the Games.
• The MIG 2018 will also feature a traditional Powwow, with Dance Specials and a Community Feast on the last day of competition. This special event is also FREE and open to the public.
• MIG was founded by the Aboriginal Sport and Wellness Council of Ontario (ASWCO), the officially recognized Provincial/Territorial Aboriginal Sport Body for Ontario.

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MIG 2018 Social Media:

www.mastersindigenousgames.ca
facebook.com/MIG2018Toronto @MIG2018Toronto

#MIG2018
#EmbodyTheSpirit
#WellnessWarrior

Acknowledgement

The Masters Indigenous Games 2018 honours and acknowledges the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit. The Masters Indigenous Games 2018 also acknowledges all Indigenous Peoples and communities across the province of Ontario, including First Nations, Inuit and Métis, living both on and off reserve, in rural and urban communities.

Contact Information:

MIG 2018 Communications Team
communications@mastersindigenousgames.ca