Yukon Lottery Commission Supports 2019 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships

The Yukon First Nations Hockey Association is receiving $63,010 from the Yukon Lottery Commission to host the 2019 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships.

The hockey tournament takes place in Whitehorse from May 6 to 12, 2019, and will bring together over 600 elite bantam and midget-aged male and female First Nations, Inuit and Métis athletes from around the country.

The three territories will be represented by Team North, featuring the top male and female Indigenous hockey players from across the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

The Yukon First Nations Hockey Association is the first recipient of funding provided through the Yukon Lottery Commission’s Partnership Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Yukon.

I’m very pleased to see our internal partnership with the Government of Yukon help advance this exciting event, which is a wonderful example of how collaboration can improve the way we as partners can support arts, sport and recreation in the territory.

Yukon Lottery Commission Chair and CEO Frank Curlew

The Government of Yukon is committed to upholding the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and supporting the growth and development of Indigenous athletes. We are delighted to work with our partners to invest in Indigenous sports, promote active lifestyles and bring high quality athletes from across Canada to compete in the Yukon.

Community Services Minister and Minister Responsible for the Yukon Lottery Commission John Streicker

Hosting the National Aboriginal Hockey Championship will provide a unique opportunity to share Yukon’s diverse culture with athletes, coaches and fans from across the country. We are pleased to partner with the Yukon Lottery Commission to advance reconciliation through sport and showcase Yukon’s Indigenous athletes.

Tourism and Culture Minister Jeanie Dendys

We sincerely appreciate the support of Lotteries Yukon and its commitment to supporting a sport system here in the Yukon that is inclusive of Indigenous peoples. Hosting this year’s NAHC is significant for our organization and for the territory and we look forward to showcasing our athletes, our city and our culture to Canadians.

Yukon First Nations Hockey Association President Michelle Dawson-Beattie

Quick Facts

• The Yukon Lottery Commission is providing support through its Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU was created in 2014 to formalize the revenue sharing relationship between the Yukon Lottery Commission and the Government of Yukon. The MOU fosters collaboration between the partners and provides a mechanism for funding strategic arts, sport and recreation initiatives that lie outside the regular programming of Lotteries Yukon.
• The National Aboriginal Hockey Championship was founded in 2001 by the Aboriginal Sport Circle and is sanctioned by Hockey Canada. The organization works to raise awareness of Aboriginal hockey in Canada and provide Aboriginal youth an opportunity to showcase their talents on the national stage. The tournament is hosted by a different Canadian city each spring.
• The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #88 calls on governments to support long-term Aboriginal athlete development and growth.

Contact

Colleen Parker
General Manager
Lotteries Yukon
867-633-7899
colleen.parker@gov.yk.ca
News release #:
19-084

NT5