Governments welcomed the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) Declaration on Reconciliation and Partnership with Indigenous Peoples at the Commonwealth Secretariat’s 11th Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting in Paris on Thursday 25 July.
Introduced by CGF President Chris Jenkins, Former Chief of Six Nations and the Grand River and Co-Chair of the CGF’s Indigenous Working Group Ava Hill invited Ministers to support, promote, and implement the Declaration as part of a global campaign to advance peaceful co-existence and reconciliation. Chief Wilton Littlechild, one of the original contributors to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, also spoke in support of the CGF Declaration.
Chief Ava called on all sports organisations, institutions, Governments, Games organisers, individuals, and Indigenous Peoples to work together to support and implement the spirit and actions of the Declaration. The Declaration can now be downloaded and signed at commonwealthsport.com/reconciliation.
The Declaration was co-created by an international working group and was approved by Commonwealth Games Association members at the CGF General Assembly in Singapore in November 2023.
Building on the ground-breaking work started at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on Australia’s Gold Coast, the Declaration reflects the Movement’s commitment to addressing issues of truth and reconciliation through sports and honouring the culture, heritage and experiences of Indigenous Peoples within the Commonwealth.
Emphasising the holistic benefits of sports to Indigenous Peoples, it calls for 10 actions by stakeholders across sport. These actions include promoting physical, cultural, spiritual, and mental well-being, supporting sustainable sports policies and programs, investing in coaching and mentorship for Indigenous youth, and integrating Indigenous sports into schools and community programs.
Chief Ava said, ”This Declaration is a universal document and is a testament to the power of collaboration and dialogue. It demonstrates a commitment to the rights and opportunities for Indigenous peoples, so let us use it to give young Indigenous people hope and inspiration, so that they can achieve success in sports and in their lives. In giving hope to our young people, we are also giving hope to all Indigenous peoples and their communities.”
CGF President Chris Jenkins said, ”By endorsing this Declaration, Sports Ministers have acknowledged the vital role of sport in promoting inclusion, education, health, and peace. At the CGF, we commit to protecting and advancing the rights and opportunities of Indigenous communities, ensuring that the transformative power of sport benefits all. Learning from the past, let us move forward positively together and create a future where sport unites us all in a spirit of respect, empowerment, and wellbeing.”
The website link to the Declaration and signatory page can be found here.
About the Commonwealth Games Federation
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) is the organisation with responsibility for the direction and control of the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games, and for delivering the vision of the Commonwealth Sport Movement: ‘Our Commonwealth, united through sport’.
Our mission is to deliver inspirational and impactful Games; to excite and empower athletes and young people; and to drive equality in sport and society across the Commonwealth.
Established in 1930, the Commonwealth Sport Movement brings together 74 independent nations and territories creating a diverse Commonwealth community of over 2.5 billion individuals, representing one-third of the world’s population. Together we stand as a beacon of unity, diversity, and equality, completely integrating Para athletes, driving gender equality and advocating for legacy and social change through sport.
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