Recognizing that barriers to accessing the benefits of sport programs still exist in many Indigenous communities, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage, today announced the launch of the second intake of applications for the Sport for Social Development in Indigenous Communities (SSDIC) program component. This intake will consider applications for funding for projects to be delivered in the 2021–22 and 2022–23 fiscal years.

This initiative helps Indigenous youth be more active and healthy, and reconnect with traditional sports and culture in some cases, while also providing alternatives to risky behaviour and improving opportunities for employment and education. The targeted social outcomes and activities of each project are identified and proposed by the Indigenous communities themselves, to ensure they address their own specific needs.

• The Sport for Social Development in Indigenous Communities initiative delivers funding through two streams:

  Stream One: $5.3 million available annually to the 13 Provincial/Territorial Aboriginal Sport Bodies (PTASBs) for the development of community sport for social development projects, and the Aboriginal Sport Circle (ASC) for leadership and coordination amongst the PTASBs.

  Stream Two: $3.6 million available annually to Indigenous governments, Indigenous communities and other not-for-profit Indigenous and non‑Indigenous delivery organizations collaborating with Indigenous organizations for projects that use sport for social development in Indigenous communities.

• Indigenous governments, Indigenous communities and other not-for-profit Indigenous and non‑Indigenous delivery organizations collaborating with Indigenous organizations have until October 16, 2020 to submit their applications for Stream Two funding.
• The Provincial/Territorial Aboriginal Sport Bodies eligible under Stream One have until November 20, 2020 to submit their applications for their formula-based funding.