For Immediate Release
Bid Application for the 2027 North American Indigenous Games Approved to Compete for Western Canada
TK̓EMLÚPS TE SECWÉPEMC – KAMLOOPS, BC – Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc and the City of Kamloops are pleased to announce that Kamloops has been selected by the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I·SPARC) to serve as British Columbia’s official host candidate community for the 2027 North American Indigenous Games (2027 NAIG). As a result, Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc and the City of Kamloops have submitted their Letter of Intent to bid on the 2027 Games to the North American Indigenous Games Council.
Kúkpi7 Rosanne Casimir on behalf of Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc and the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council said “We are extremely proud and excited to be selected to represent British Columbia as we compete against western provinces and territories to host the 2027 North American Indigenous Games. This is a historic opportunity for our people and our Nation, to host Indigenous athletes from across North America, and to showcase our beautiful land and Secwépemc culture.”
“The opportunity to host the 2027 North American Indigenous Games would continue to expand on our long-standing relationship with Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc and other surrounding indigenous communities,” said Reid Hamer-Jackson, Mayor of Kamloops. “It would be a notable event which will again bring our communities together in celebration of sport and reconciliation.”
The 2027 North American Indigenous Games is the largest international, multi sport, and cultural event for Indigenous youth in North America. If successful, Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc and Kamloops will welcome up to 6,000 athletes, coaches, team staff, and cultural performers from over 756 Indigenous Nations in Canada and the United States.
“We are incredibly impressed with the partnership formed between Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc and City of Kamloops and their vision for hosting the 2027 NAIG in the traditional territories of the Secwépemc peoples,” said Rick Brant, I·SPARC CEO. “A welcoming community, strong leadership, world-class facilities, and the impressive resume of hosting provincial, national, and international sport events make Kamloops the ideal location for the NAIG. We are excited with the opportunity to support Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc and City of Kamloops through the bid process.”
“The Province is pleased to support Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc and the City of Kamloops, and their bid to host the North American Indigenous Games in 2027,” said Lisa Beare, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. “It would be an honour to welcome the Games in British Columbia, and I look forward to the next steps in the selection process.”
Next steps in the bid process will be a competition within western Canada. The North American Indigenous Games Council utilizes a scoring system that assists the bid committee and Council with awarding the games to the best prepared and most qualified host candidate city.
The right to host the 2027 North American Indigenous Games will be awarded to the Host Candidate City that has the highest overall score of their bid book, site evaluation tour, and final in-person presentation. The North American Indigenous Games Council will award the 2027 Games by mid July 2023.
The North American Indigenous Games are held every four years and use a geographic rotation when choosing the next location. The next Games will be held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 2023. The 2027 bid is for the western region, and the next opportunity for this region to host is in 2039.
For more information about the North American Indigenous Games: http://www.naigcouncil.com
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Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc Media Contact:
Rosanne Casimir, Kúkpi7/Chief
250-819-2255
kukpi7.rosanne@ttes.ca
City of Kamloops Media Contact:
Sean Smith, Business Operations and Events Supervisor
250-828-3552
ssmith@kamloops.ca