Dene Games' Host Venue Ready to Kickoff Events Thanks to Federal Investments

CanNor provides over $177,000 in funding to help prepare Kát?'odeeche First Nation, Hay River, Northwest Territories to host games

HAY RIVER, NT, March 16, 2018 /CNW/ - The 25th Arctic Winter Games are about to begin ? showing the world what Northern and Indigenous athletes have to offer. Thanks to a $177,206 investment from the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) and $44,301 from Indigenous and Northern Affairs (INAC), the Kát?'odeeche First Nation (KFN) received the required support to be able to provide a professional hosting venue to launch the Dene Games competition. 

The funding was announced today in the lead up to the opening of the Arctic Winter Games by Michael McLeod, Member of Parliament (Northwest Territories) on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor).

Federal funding is being provided in support of venue preparation (including signage), event planning and hosting skills development, as well as logistics support for participants and volunteers. As the Arctic Winter Games are returning to the South Slave region for the first time in 40 years, the KFN saw a unique opportunity to shine the spotlight on its rich cultural industry; which is why the funding is also supporting the creation of a cultural marketplace designed to promote and profile local arts and crafts to visitors.

Overall, these improvements will help the hosting First Nation provide an impressive venue for Northern athletes to compete and come together as a circumpolar community. It will also better position and equip the community to welcome visitors and other events in the future.  

Quotes

"The Government of Canada is proud to support the Dene Games and I wish all participants the very best of luck! Through these investments, we are working to support and empower Canadians to chart their own path - recognizing and seizing opportunities that plan for, stimulate and push regional economic development."

Navdeep Bains
Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and
Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency

"We are very proud of this investment ? it comes at a critical time with the return of the Arctic Winter Games in the South Slave region.  This project offers the opportunity to showcase the Northwest Territories not only as a tourist destination but also as an international host venue."

Michael McLeod
Member of Parliament, Northwest Territories

"The Ka?t?'odeeche First Nation is very excited and honoured to be hosting the Dene Games for the 2018 Arctic Winter Games on the Hay River Dene Reserve. The support of CanNor and INAC has given us the opportunity to showcase the community and our Dene Culture."

Chief Roy Fabian
Kát?'odeeche First Nation

Quick facts

• CanNor invested $177,206, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) invested $44,301 and KFN contributed $20,000 - bringing the total funding of the project to $241,507.
• This funding was provided through CanNor's Northern Aboriginal Economic Opportunities Program (NAEOP) under the program stream Community Readiness and Opportunities Planning (CROP).
• The 2018 Arctic Winter Games, hosted jointly by the communities of Hay River and Fort Smith, will include 1900 participants from the circumpolar north, including Greenland and Alaska. Approximately 1000 Canadian youth will participate from Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Nunavik (Quebec) and Northern Alberta.
• The K'at?'odeeche First Nation (KFN) is hosting the Dene Games competition portion of the 25th Arctic Winter Games. These competitions include: finger pull, snowsnake, stick pull, hand games and pole push, and an all?round event consisting of the scores for the three individual events.

Associated links

• Yellowknife and Hay River families will benefit from improved community spaces for a better quality of life

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For more information about CanNor, visit cannor.gc.ca.

SOURCE Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor)