The Masters Indigenous Games provides Indigenous adults aged 20 years and older, the opportunity to compete against their peers in a variety of contemporary and traditional sporting activities. In addition to the various sport competitions, the Masters Games provide all participants and attendees with a safe and exciting opportunity to celebrate and promote the various cultures of Indigenous peoples from around the world, in an interactive ‘Cultural Village’, open to the public, which runs the length of the Games.

The inaugural Masters Games took place in July of 2018, in Toronto, Ontario. The next MIG was scheduled for 2021, but was rescheduled to 2023 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2023 MIG will take place in Ottawa, Ontario from August 24-27, and then occur every 2 years thereafter.

The competition sports for the 2023 Masters Indigenous Games that will be available for participants to compete in, include:

• 3D Archery
• Athletics (Track & Field and Cross Country)
• Basketball
• Canoe/Kayak
• Golf
• Volleyball

Indigenous Sport & Wellness Ontario (ISWO) is the designated Provincial/Territorial Aboriginal Sporting Body (P/TASB) for Ontario, serving all Indigenous Peoples across the province. ISWO’s vision is to enhance the wellbeing of Indigenous Peoples and support active and healthy Indigenous Peoples, families and communities in Ontario. Funded by the Government of Ontario through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Sport, and the Government of Canada, through Sport Canada, ISWO works to serve all Indigenous Peoples and communities in Ontario, including First Nations, Inuit and Métis, in an equitable and fair manner.

No, there are no qualifiers or tryouts for the Masters Indigenous Games; the Games are built on a foundation of inclusivity and community, designed to maximize participation. Unlike the North American Indigenous Games, there are no contingents, clubs or associations that anyone must compete under. Numerous teams from the same area, region or country, can be entered and anyone can enter a team with Indigenous athletes from around the world. Individuals may also be placed on teams, if they don’t have a team to play with, given there are enough individual participants to create a full-team for any given sport.

Sport and competition venues for the 2023 Masters Indigenous Games include the following:

• Nepean Sportsplex
• Pine View Golf Course
• Rideau Canoe Club
• Terry Fox Athletic Facility
• University of Ottawa
• Porcupine Hollow Archery Range

Cultural Festival Venue:

• Lansdowne Park
• Aberdeen Pavilion

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See Schedule

*Please note that venues may change given scheduling conflicts or an increase in the number of participants for any given sport. Please check the venue listing on the website for the most-up-to-date information.

The 2023 MIG Cultural Festival will be located on the Great Lawn at Lansdowne Park. The festival is free and open to the public and will feature a variety of Indigenous vendors, food trucks, interactive sport demonstrations and a main stage with performances throughout by an array of local, national and international Indigenous performers and artists. Athlete check-in, an athlete’s lounge, volunteer lounge, medical services and merchandise shop will be located inside of the Aberdeen Pavilion. Washroom facilities are also located within the Pavilion.

Yes, teams must provide their own competition uniforms. Uniforms will be available for purchase through our third-party merchandise provider.

Currently, there will only be male and female competition categories for the majority of sports, with the exception of canoe, and volleyball. If there is sufficient interest, co-ed categories may be added on a sport-by-sport basis.

The final deadline for submitting rosters is June 14, 2023. If your final team roster is not submitted by this time there is no guarantee of availability of space. All individuals on the team must have also completed their registration and paid their registration fees to be considered.

Each sport has different requirements in terms of athletes per team. Please refer to the Sport Technical Package for more information.

Your registration fee provides your sport participation, access to all events and event areas, including the Opening Gala and Cultural Festival, and a Masters Indigenous Games welcome package.

The team captain registers their team and sends invites to their teammates. Teammates will then accept the invitation and register with the team.

Your team must meet the minimum requirements in the Sport Technical Package, and have completed payment for registration by June 14, 2023 to be guaranteed a team spot.

Payments will be accepted online through the 2023 MIG registration system; a valid credit card is required. If you do not have a valid credit card, you can also pay via cheque, made out to Indigenous Sport & Wellness Ontario with the words ‘2023 MIG and the participants or teams name’ in the memo.

Cheques should be mailed to:

Attn: Daniel Smith

Indigenous Sport & Wellness Ontario
1090 Aerowood Drive, Unit #1A
Mississauga, Ontario, L4W 1Y5

If you are unable to get a full team together, you may register as an individual, and then placed on a team from a pool of other individual registrants. This will be dependent on the number of individual players registered for any given sport, and the number of spaces open to be filled. All individual placements will be completed by June 14, 2023. If the 2023 MIG team is unable to place you on a team, you will be notified, and can then either change your registration to compete in an individual sport or withdraw your registration. Any athletes registered for a team sport as an individual, and who are not able to be placed on a team, will be provided a full refund of their registration fees.

No, your registration fee does not include accommodation or meals. The 2023 MIG team has arranged a number of hotel blocks with discounted and best-rate hotel packages and options for accommodations available specifically for the 2023 Masters Indigenous Games athletes; you can find these via the website under hotel packages and accommodations. Alternatively, you can book your own accommodations with either the ‘selected host’ hotels or any option that suits your needs and budget; you can find a link under the ‘Visiting Ottawa’ section of the website.

Yes, all participants will be asked to provide proof of their Indigenous ancestry. In Canada that includes: Status Cards, Metis Registration Numbers, and other accepted documents. For international Indigenous participants, the form of identification considered sufficient in each country will be accepted.

Yes, you are able to participate in more than one sport, however it will be your responsibility to ensure that schedules will not conflict. Additionally, you will be required to pay the registration fee for each sport competition.

The 2023 Masters Indigenous Games will provide full refunds to any participants requesting such refund in writing, until June 19, 2023. Refund requests received between June 20, 2023 and until June 30, 2023, will be eligible for 50% of the total registration fee. After June 30, 2023, refunds will not be provided for any registered participant, with the exception of medical and personal emergencies.

This policy, a common practice among multi-sport events, was created to ensure the integrity of 2023 MIG; facility rentals, officiating assignments, schedules, volunteer placements, swag, food, and other resources will have been secured and paid for by the 2023 MIG organizing committee by that time and will impact the sustainability of the organization.

Yes, the Master Tour and the Masters Indigenous Games (MIG) are separate events and you must pay the MIG registration fee. If you received a signed FREE Registration Voucher at a MIG Tour event, please send an email to info@mastersindigenousgames.com with the information and we can ensure you receive complimentary registration.

The Opening Gala will serve as the Opening Ceremonies. All athletes are invited to attend the Opening Gala; tickets will be available for purchase for a nominal fee. The Opening Gala will include entertainment, performances, music, cocktail appetizers and dessert selection and two drink tickets. Space is limited, so we encourage all athletes to buy their tickets in advance. 

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