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Guelph, ON — June 27, 2026 — Indigenous Sport & Wellness Ontario (ISWO) announced the launch of the Ontario Arctic Sports & Traditional Games at The GOOD Games today. The new event is coming to Thunder Bay this fall.
The GOOD Games are Canada's largest festival of sport, play, and community, and over the last few days have brought kids, adult athletes, and community members from across Ontario to learn about and participate in a range of sports activities, including Arctic sports, making it the ideal setting to announce a new event designed to unite Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities through shared sport and culture.
Ontario Arctic Sports & Traditional Games was born from a shared vision to bring Arctic sports south to Ontario. For Indigenous peoples from the northern regions of Turtle Island, Arctic sports are a vital expression of culture and identity. With these sports now coming to Ontario, Inuit peoples living in the province have a new opportunity to reconnect with games that are a traditional part of their heritage, while other Indigenous peoples can discover games rooted in Inuit and Dene ways of life.
"Arctic sports are based on traditional games developed by the Inuit and other northern Indigenous peoples to survive and thrive in a harsh northern climate," said Kyle Worl, one of the top Arctic sports athletes in the world and a driving force behind bringing Arctic sports to Ontario.
"Today, it is a modern sport that has expanded far beyond the Arctic, while continuing to serve as a valuable tool for teaching Indigenous culture and values such as community, resilience, and perseverance."
What makes Arctic sports so unique is how deeply rooted they are in community participation. ISWO is honouring that tradition by keeping community at the heart of the Ontario Arctic Sports & Traditional Games. Everyone is welcome to engage with the history behind the sports, learn how to participate, and celebrate traditions from the far northern reaches of Turtle Island.
The Ontario Arctic Sports & Traditional Games build on the historic inclusion of Arctic sports at the 2025 Masters Indigenous Games (MIG), and also pave the way for Team Ontario representation at the 2028 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG), where Arctic sports have been added as a trial sport.
ISWO is leading the way in expanding access to Arctic sports and traditional games beyond the northern territories. Prior to the inaugural Ontario Arctic Sports & Traditional Games event, there will be another opportunity for Indigenous folks in Ontario to participate in Arctic sports at our next youth sports event, Miziwe Aking Odomino Giizhigad (International Day of Play), in Kenora on Monday, July 27.
This event will take place at the Tom Nabb Outdoor Soccer Complex from 10 AM-4 PM, and will feature soccer in the morning and Arctic sports demonstrations and training in the afternoon. Our Standing Bear team will also be running a Cultural Village on-site with activities like drawing, beading, and other cultural teachings.
Lunch is included for all participants, and prizes are up for grabs in the mini soccer and Arctic sports competitions we'll be running throughout the day.
We invite community members to join us at Miziwe Aking Odomino Giizhigad (International Day of Play) on July 27, 2026, and at the inaugural Ontario Arctic Sports & Traditional Games in Thunder Bay this fall, two landmark events celebrating culture, athleticism, and community.
For Miziwe Aking Odomino Giizhigad (International Day of Play) inquiries, please contact:
Luc Boucha
Summer Student, Standing Bear
Indigenous Sport & Wellness Ontario
boucha.luc@gmail.com
(807) 407-8930
For inquiries, please contact:
Sonny Walton
Manager, Marketing & Communications
Indigenous Sport & Wellness Ontario