Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation officially withdraws support from the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games

The Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN) has officially withdrawn its support from next month’s Canada Summer Games.

A letter signed by Chief R. Stacey Laforme does not agree with the signing of a memorandum of understanding with consultant to coordinate the Indigenous programming of the games.

Laforme says MCFN continued to attempt at relationship building until staff who participated in discussions reported “disrespect and lateral violence.”

“We were made aware of disrespect to youth who were invited to participate in the opening. The behavior is more than enough for us to withdraw our support. We wish the athletes competing in the Games all the best,” the letter said.

The Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games website says an Indigenous partnership council for the games is comprised of representatives from local, provincial and national indigenous communities and groups working collaboratively with the 2022 Canada Games Host Society to “reinforce the presence and engagement of Indigenous communities in the events leading up to and during the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games.”

It says the council was established during the early planning stages for the 2022 Canada Games to provide voluntary advice to the Niagara 2022 Host Society concerning all matters in relation to the games, including the inclusion of Indigenous participation and protocols at the opening and closing ceremonies, Indigenous performing arts inclusion in games programming and the celebration of the reintroduction of the Indigenous game of lacrosse to the games.

The council says it had representation from the Six Nations of the Grand River, Niagara Regional Native Friendship Centre, Fort Erie Friendship Centre, The Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, Métis Nations of Ontario, NPAAMB, Inuit and Brock University.

The Canada Summer Games run at 19 venues across the Niagara Region from August 6 to August 21.