HEALING AND RECONCILIATION FOR COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES
Footsteps in the Snow
Indigenous Peoples have always known that the land can heal us.
In a time where addiction and unhealthy living are on the rise, remote communities who lack access to urban resources are turning to this ancestral knowledge to heal wounds and promote cultural pride.
The land-mind-body connection required to play sports has helped change the outlook many Indigenous Peoples have on their future.
The late Father Jean-Marie Mouchet recognized the potential sports had for communities to channel their energy into healthier living. The historic Territorial Experimental Ski Training (T.E.S.T.) program was born to teach youth how to cross-country ski. Vuntut Gwitchin First Nations is expanding on this successful initiative to create the Old Crow Snowshoe Biathlon. This annual youth-based winter project aims to excite, motivate, and inspire young Indigenous Peoples by showing them what they are capable of through dedication and hard work.
The proven success of T.E.S.T. is why the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF) is providing funding to help cover costs associated with training and running the snowshoe biathlon. These funds will ensure participants have everything they need to prepare and will remove any barriers to taking part. By combining traditional skills with athletic training, the program will instill self-pride, responsibility and cultural connection among young community members.
Since 1967, T.E.S.T. has been changing the lives of Indigenous Peoples across Canada. Over the decades, participants of the program have gone on to compete and win medals on the international stage, from the Canadian National Ski Championships to the Winter Olympics.
Diocese of Whitehorse
