Photo: Lowa Beebe, chair of the 2027 International Indigenous Games & Gathering host committee. / Photo by Candice Ward.
By Sam Laskaris
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Windspeaker.com
Alberta will still be hosting a major Indigenous multi-sport event next year. It was announced on Jan. 20 that the 2027 International Indigenous Games & Gathering will take place in the province.
Calgary was originally scheduled to host the 2027 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG), but officials from the NAIG Council made public last August that they were withdrawing Calgary’s hosting rights. NAIG Council officials are currently trying to secure a host city for their next Games, likely now to be staged in 2028.
But representatives who had been planning to stage the 2027 NAIG Games have not been standing pat. They’ve been holding meetings to organize an alternate event.
“The non-Indigenous people on the board stepped away from coming to the next iteration of what we’re going to do,” said Lowa Beebe, who had served as the CEO of the Calgary Host Society and is now chair of the 2027 International Indigenous Games & Gathering host committee.
“We’ve always been committed to an event,” she said. “We had to figure out who’s going to be involved and what is that going to look like.”
Beyond sports, next year’s event will include cultural showcases and ceremonies, youth programming, knowledge forums, an arts festival and an artistic exchange.
Dr. Wilton Littlechild, one of the founders of the NAIG, is among the main organizers for next year’s event.
“When we first envisioned international Indigenous Games in the 1970s, the dream was unity — Indigenous Nations standing together through sport and culture,” Littlechild said. “The 2027 International Indigenous Games & Gathering carries that original vision forward, honouring our ancestors while building pathways for future generations.”
Beebe said support has been pouring in for next year’s event. Representatives from various provinces, territories, American states and other countries have expressed interest.
“We’re just excited,” Beebe said. “And what I’ll say is, personally, I’m very excited to work with those that want to work with us to get something hosted here in this province.”
A total of 15 sports were contested at the last NAIG, primarily held in Halifax in 2023. Those sports included athletics, baseball, basketball, lacrosse, soccer and volleyball.
Beebe believes next year’s Games will offer all the same sports as the last NAIG.
“I’m certain that’s in the plan,” she said. “But I don’t want to be solidly guaranteeing something until we announce it.”
Beebe said there will also be some new events included in the competition schedule. Calgary will add Indian horse relay races, as well as traditional Indigenous games.
“That’s an addition,” she said. “And it will be part of a cultural showcase.”
Beebe hopes that reps from across Canada will take part in the Games.
“That’s what the intent of this is,” she said. “We have relationships across this country. And the intent of this is that everybody is welcome.”
Chief Troy Knowlton, the president of the Blackfoot Confederacy, is thrilled a major sporting competition will still be held in the province next year.
“With the 2027 North American Indigenous Games no longer proceeding, this moment creates space for something broader and more inclusive,” he said. “This new gathering allows us to welcome Indigenous Nations from around the world to our territory; to share their sports, cultures and ways of life, and to do so on our own terms, guided by Indigenous leadership and vision.”
The NAIG were first held in Edmonton in 1990. The Games have been held a total of 11 times.
An original intent was to move the Games around to different Canadian and American cities, but the Games have only been staged in the U.S. twice, in the Minnesota city of Blaine in 1995 and in the Colorado capital of Denver in 2006.
Beebe said organizers of the 2027 Games have plenty of work to do in the coming months.
“I am still looking to fill committee positions,” she said. “And we’re going to definitely be out there seeking sponsors.”
Next year’s games are scheduled to commence on July 25 and run until July 31.
Besides staging some of the sporting events, Edmonton will also host a powwow. The majority of the cultural showcase happening will be in Calgary.
Beebe is anticipating the event will be well attended.
“It definitely will be in the thousands, depending on the sponsorship that we can raise,” she said of the number of participants expected to take part.