A Journey with Hope & Health: The Matriarchs Advisory Circle & Strategic Planning Retreat
BC Soccer was invited to attend the Matriarchs Advisory Circle Strategic Planning Retreat in partnership with Hope and Health. This powerful event brought together First Nations women representing more than 20 First Nations from across Canada to support and develop soccer-related opportunities for Indigenous youth living in BC. The goal for everyone involved is to support the future generation of Indigenous athletes to reach their potential and dream big. .
Attending the retreat was an opportunity to facilitate reconciliation through healing and relationship building. "It was such an impactful way to come together,” said Lisa White, BC Soccer’s Sporting Director. “We got to know each other through sharing culture and connection to build a strong foundation for a meaningful relationship.”
In this intimate, safe space, the matriarchs explored the challenges and barriers Indigenous people face trying to participate in organized sport, including racism and discrimination. Other topics such as the history of colonization and inter-generational trauma, systemic racism, access to services and opportunities in remote and rural communities, and the impacts of poverty were at the forefront of the weekend.
But each conversation evolved towards exploring solutions to mitigate these challenges and concerns to ultimately creating culturally safer, inclusive and diverse playing and coaching opportunities for Indigenous people in soccer. “Soccer is medicine,” was a common refrain from the matriarchs, who believe in Hope and Health’s mandate to enhance the physical, social and emotional well-being of Indigenous children and youth through sport.
BC Soccer is committed to identifying and removing barriers to participation among under-represented groups, including Indigenous peoples. Joining the Matriarch’s Advisory Circle retreat to participate in this important dialogue, and working with Hope and Health is the beginning of a meaningful relationship that will continue to inform how we walk forward together on the path towards reconciliation.
We truly thank the Matriarchs Advisory Circle for their invitation to this retreat, and we look forward to building a strong soccer future for Indigenous people across British Columbia.
Background:
Hope and Health is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering Indigenous children and youth through port, particularly soccer. Their efforts focus on using sport to cultivate inner champions, enhancing the physical, social, and emotional well-being of participants through collaboration and input of Indigenous athletes and coaches.
The Matriarch’s Advisory Circle is a group of First Nations women representing more than 20 First Nations from across Canada. Each member has a connection to soccer as either a parent/grandparent, player, coach, and/or community leader/organizer.
The Matriarchs Advisory Circle was established to provide authentic and informed guidance and direction to support Indigenous athletes and coaches in BC from a community-based grassroots perspective.
