CAAWS Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity Encouraging girls and women to get off the bleachers, and onto the fields and playing courts, into the pools, the locker rooms and boardrooms of Canada

Stats & Facts  51% of Canadian youth aged are physically inactive.  79% may not be active enough to meet international guidelines for optimal growth and development.  Girls are significantly less active than boys – 63% of girls compared to 44% of boys. 2002/2003 Canadian Community Health Survey *Based on daily kilocalories per kilogram energy expenditures

WHO CARES? What are the benefits of Healthy Living for Aboriginal Girls & Young women??

SOUNDS EASY, BUT… What barriers exist for Aboriginal girls & young women?

On the Move A national initiative designed to increase opportunities for inactive girls and young women (ages 9-18) to participate in sport and physical activity

On the Move Concept  Conceptual, not prescriptive  Participant-driven  Programming for who is not there  Not based on supply on demand

On the Move Objectives 1.To increase awareness of the benefits of regular physical activity 2.To provide enjoyable and lasting positive sport and physical activity experiences 3.To increase the types of physical activity programs available 4.To increase physical activity skill level and self-esteem 5.To provide opportunities for females to participate in program planning and decision-making

On the Move Success Factors Fun! Variety of Social and Physical Activities Females Only Role Model Leader Input from Girls and Young Women Safe & Supportive Environment Skill Based Learning Food Choice of Clothing and Music

Team Spirit Project Purpose  To increase community sport programs for Aboriginal girls and young women  To increase Aboriginal girls’ and young women’s participation AFTER the Team Spirit program  In partnership with the Aboriginal Sport Circle  Funded by Sport Canada 2004/ /2008  Funding from McConnell Foundation 2008/2009

 Community Program Funding  $3,000 for a 10 week program  Female-only, sport skill development, Sport Canada sports, certified instructor  Female Aboriginal Leaders  Consultations & Workshops  Ongoing Support & Communication  Partnership Development  National Advocacy & Communication Team Spirit

1.Aboriginal Friendship Centres of Calgary, AB 2.Ahkwesahsne Mohawk Board of Ed, Akwesasne ON 3.Boys and Girls Clubs of Winnipeg, MB 4.Chesterfield Inlet, NU 5.Eel Ground School, NB 6.Eskasoni Culture Recreation and Youth, NS 7.Nawash Board of Ed/Niish Nobbie Nordics, Wiarton ON 8.Oskayak H.S. & U of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon SK 9.Sechelt First Nation/Pender Harbour, BC Community Programs

Program Benefits Participants  Increased confidence & self-esteem  Physical benefits of physical activity  Social benefits of participation with peers in a fun environment  Increased school attendance  New personal goals & aspirations

Program Benefits Program Leaders  Professional development  Increased awareness of the girls’ experiences  Being a positive role model/mentor  Encouraging them to participate  Supporting connections between participants and community sport opportunities

Program Benefits Project/National Level  Access to new communities  Increased awareness about the experiences of Aboriginal girls and young women  Increased awareness about the challenges limiting the provision of physical activity programs

Program Challenges  Participant recruitment & commitment  Selling participants on sport – convincing them to try new things  Parental support  Transportation  Access to facilities  Access to qualified instructors  Time & capacity

Project Lessons  Generous funding is a matter of perspective  Building capacity requires having a backup for the backup’s backup  Ownership & Accountability  Be strategic about partnerships  Integrating “Aboriginal culture” requires a holistic approach

Addressing the Barriers  Continuum of program expectations  Loose definition of “certified”  Provision of reporting templates  Flexible budgets  Awareness raising & networking

Program Lessons  Making it FUN  Relationship building - trust & familiarity  Participant recruitment  Exposure to a variety of experiences  “right” to participate; awareness  Integration of non-sport components  Partnerships to expand opportunities  Start Young  Be Flexible

Aboriginal Girls On the Move Project Purpose:  To increase opportunities for inactive girls and young women to lead healthy, active lives  Variety of physical activities and sport  Educational sessions about the importance of healthy living, e.g. SE, healthy eating, bullying, etc.

Aboriginal Girls On the Move Six Communities Selected for Funding  Cormorant Lake, MB  Deschambault Lake, SK  Exshaw/Morley, AB  Lennox Island, PEI  Seabird Island Band, Agassiz, BC  Walpole Island/Chatham-Kent, ON  NOTE: 66 applications received!

Questions? Sydney Millar CAAWS