Adult Figure Skating Competition Celebrates First Nations Culture & Collaboration

The figure skating community descended onto Calgary, Alberta and the Tsuut’ina First Nation from September 18-21 for the 2024 ISU North American International Adult Figure Skating Competition held at the 7 Chiefs Sportsplex, and as the first international skating event held on First Nations land, the event organizers were eager for participants to engage with the Tsuut’ina community.

“We are profoundly grateful to the Tsuut’ina people for their warm welcome,” said Lisa Hardy, Executive Director for Skate Alberta, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut. “Their guiding principle, “Tsuut’ina,” meaning “many people” or “everyone,” reflects a powerful spirit of inclusivity and community which deeply resonates with the core values of the Adult Skating environment, where unity and shared experiences define our journey together.”

For Destiny Whitney, the General Manager of the facility, the event provided an opportunity to showcase their facility and their culture to international visitors, while also celebrating the talents of the adult competitors.

“I’m all about international competition here at the facility. I feel it’s important to showcase our venue here on an international level, and then also I feel like adult content isn’t showcased as well. Everyone here was oohing and ahhing and saying ‘Did you see that? Oh my gosh!’. And that’s inspiring, because unfortunately, I don’t think (adult competitors) get enough credit for what they do.”

The event also highlighted the importance of sport for Canada’s Indigenous communities. Sport is something that Whitney, who is an LPGA professional and played competitive volleyball, was introduced to at a young age by her grandmother. Her grandmother spent her childhood in the residential school system and believed that sport equaled opportunity.

“As a kid from a nation that came from poverty, I became rich in sport, and I think that’s a big takeaway with any of these First Nations. If you give to sport, it gives back, and that same testament applies to these adults that are competing. They’re not competing for anyone else, they’re competing for themselves and knowing that they can still obtain these things and they can still showcase their talents and abilities, and hopefully one day, inspire someone. That’s ultimately what it comes down to.”

The Tsuut’ina Nation were very much hands-on collaborators with Skate Alberta|NWT|NU and their culture was on great display throughout the event, including signage in their language, a vendor’s space that showcased many local First Nations artisans, and a welcome ceremony that featured former Chief Lee Crowchild as an oral storyteller, along with several singers and dancers.

“He (Chief Crowchild) explained and introduced each dance and dancer and provided some of the history and meaning behind the dances. That was throughout the performance and then it ended with a round dance,” said Hardy.

A Round Dance is a traditional Indigenous dance ceremony in which participants form a circle and move in a clockwise direction. The dance holds cultural and spiritual significance and symbolizes unity, community, and a connection to the land, ancestors, and the Creator.

“Many people joined in and enjoyed having the opportunity to actively participate in the dance,” said Hardy. “Few people there have had the opportunity to see these cultural dances and regalia they wear up close. The intricate work and thoughtful meaning that goes into each dancer’s regalia is amazing.”

With the event taking place just weeks before the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada on September 30, Chief Crowchild concluded his speech at the welcome ceremony by saying:

“I care for my nation, and I care for my people. On September 30, we say that Every Child Matters. We’re talking about those that went to residential schools that never came home. They are buried in mass graves all across Canada. The US isn’t that much different, and the same in Australia and maybe some in New Zealand too. I want you all to be good human beings to each other. If you do take a moment on September 30^th, I want you to acknowledge just how much of a gift it is to be on this land and to take your next breaths.”

Skate Canada and our sections across the country deeply value the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and take responsibility for ensuring that our sport leads in its operations, its decision-making, and its actions, by working in good ways and building meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities. This day reminds us of our ongoing work to address oppression, exclusion, and anti-Indigenous racism. This work includes our continued commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action 87 to 91, and our collective contribution to increase engagement and action among our committees, sections, governance, members, and fans, in creating allyship with Indigenous Peoples.

We hope that you continue this journey with us and with the guidance of Indigenous elders and your efforts, we can create an environment that is more inclusive for everyone.