Sport for Indigenous resurgence: Toward a critical settler-colonial reflection

Mariana Essa; Alexandra Arellano; Stephen Stuart; Stephen Sheps

doi:10.1177/10126902211005681

Sport for Indigenous resurgence: Toward a critical settler-colonial reflection

Int Rev Sociol Sport. 2022 Mar;57(2):292-312. doi: 10.1177/10126902211005681. Epub 2021 Apr 6.

Authors

Mariana Essa, Alexandra Arellano¹, Stephen Stuart², Stephen Sheps³

Affiliations

¹ University of Ottawa, Canada.
² Saint Paul University, Canada.
³ Ryerson University, Canada.

Abstract

This article examines the field of sport for development (SFD) while considering Indigenous resurgence amidst Canada's neoliberal settler-colonial landscape. While sharing challenges encountered within their practice, program staff from the Promoting Life-skills in Aboriginal Youth program revealed high levels of constructive self-criticism and reflexivity. There are three emergent themes, the adoption of which appeared essential for transforming the sector in recognition of Indigenous resurgence: growth and pace; Indigenous agency and knowledge; and political engagement. Grounded in settler colonialism and resurgence, this paper also reflects on the field of SFD and what it would mean to decolonize the practice. The article concludes by asking if non-Indigenous scholars can study SFD by subverting the colonial status quo that is also reproduced in this research field.

Keywords: Indigenous; resurgence; settler colonialism; sport for development.