One Aboriginal athlete at the Olympics beats 200 token dancers

I think we would all agree that prevention is better than treatement, especially when it comes to health. The costs are uncomparable.

There was a time in Canada when Aboriginal people were barred from amateur competition because it was thought we held an unfair racial advantage over our competitors (Native athletes were put in the same category as 'professional athletes').

How times have changed.

Today the situation is scarcely any better – our participation within national sport programs is either entirely lacking or non-existent. Demographically we represent one of the unhealthiest groups in Canadian society with rates of diabetes, obesity, heart disease, resporatory disease, and suicide significantly above national averages.

It is LONG past time that we had a comprehensive strategy to deal with the health of Aboriginal people. One place we can start by working with Aboriginal and northern athletes.

Here is my thoughts on how Canada can address this problem:

1) Instead of showing off Aboriginal culture at the 2010 Olympics in Whistler, through dance, regalia and cultural appropriation, Canada should support a short and long term strategic initiative to identify and develop Aboriginal athletes. One athlete representing Canda in 2012 means more than 200 token dancers in 2010. We have young people in northern Canada that are capable of achieving elite levels of performance ... if they are given the opportunity.
Role model posters don't cut it.

2) Assembly of First Nations support elite level coaches that work with Aboriginal athletes through a monthly stipend. Quebec supports national team coaches that coach QC athletes with a significant yearly incentive - the implications of this policy ripple from elite level selection to grassroots development.

3) Canada work towards having a set number of Aboriginal persons representing Canada on all future Olympic teams (through the above strategies and others).

4) If any Aboriginal regalia, ceremonies, legends etc. are to be used in showcasing Canada at international sporting events, that Aboriginal athletes be supported in a drive to reach competitive levels at those competitions. No athletes - no dancers.

There are over 1.3 million Aboriginal people within Canada. We know that these challenges can be met, as they have been with other countries that have large Aboriginal populations (populations that have been historically underrepresented at international competitions); there were 11 Indigenous athletes representing Australia on the 2004 Olympic team, while New Zealand’s 2004 Olympic team had 16 Maori members. Both of these countries developed national programs to identify and develop Aboriginal athletes.

There is a valuable opportunity for Canada to initiate programming that will ensure Aboriginal Canadians are given equal opportunity to represent Canada at international competitions in the future. Canada's national teams should represent all of Canada. The positive spin offs of identifying and developing Aboriginal athletes in Canada will go way beyond the interests of the specific future stars, the ripples will go towards preventing the many health issues faced in Aboriginal Canada.