Brock University is changing the game with a course that explores the power of Indigenous sport and resurgence.

The Faculty of Applied Health Sciences will introduce SPMA 3V95: Sport, Community and Indigenous Resurgence as part of its Sport Management program in the Winter Term.

The course examines the relationship between the sport industry and Indigenous resurgence, offering a critical analysis of sport as both a colonial force and a space for Indigenous self-determination.

“The story of Indigenous sport in Canada does not simply end with notions of ‘reconciliation,’” says Taylor McKee, an Assistant Professor of Sport Management and creator of the course. “Indigenous sport is where we see resurgence, a reclaiming of Indigenous self-determination in the face of colonial structures.”

McKee says the idea stems from a decade of working with Indigenous sport professionals and athletes across Canada.

“There are dozens of major sporting tournaments organized each year across North America that showcase thriving Indigenous sport culture,” McKee says, citing events such as the North American Indigenous Games and the Fred Sasakamoose Chief Thunderstick National Hockey Championships.

The course will delve into Indigenous sporting structures and feature guest lectures from Indigenous athletes and sport leaders. Students will also engage in projects rooted in Indigenous sporting events to gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of Canada’s sport industry.

“Understanding why sport carries such importance for Indigenous people and the stories of those who shaped these systems will give students a more fulsome understanding of the Canadian sport industry,” McKee said.