Four Day Soccer Clinic with Naotkamegwanning First Nation

Over the summer, children from Naotkamegwanning First Nation and surrounding communities had the chance to attend a four-day soccer clinic, in collaboration with the local summer school, Kenora Chiefs Advisory (KCA) and Right To Play (RTP). While there are some opportunities for volleyball also available, there aren’t a lot of opportunities for organized sports for younger children. Josiah Penner, Community Mentor with KCA, says “a lot of the younger kids are into soccer.”

RTP staff members, Rachel Pancevski and Douglas Arienti supported the event, with Douglas bringing years of soccer coaching & play-based programming experience.

Josiah made connections with Shawendaawsowin Child and Family Services, Baibombeh Anishinaabe School, Pickering FC, Dutch Connections Football Club, and Skill Up to provide each child who attended with shoes and soccer balls “so that all the kids leave with something to take home.” He continues “They don’t have to worry about the camp being over and not being able to keep on playing.”

Over the course of the camp, children had the opportunity to play a variety of skill-building games, with organized soccer games at the end of each day. The camp ended with water activities and a big soccer game between the kids and the coaches. Children older than eight were welcome to attend with many of them being between eight and twelve, and between 20 and 30 kids attending.

Josiah is especially excited about the community buy-in; Child, Youth, and Family Services, and the Prevention Youth Mobile team, as well as the summer school all came together to provide special lunches for the participants and finish the event with a barbecue. These connections remain available to ensure that wholistic programming and pathways are in place for the local children and youth.

When Josiah returns to the community to run programming, he never goes a week without one of the children who attended asking when they’re going to play soccer again. With newly purchased indoor soccer equipment, Josiah is looking forward to the chance to continue soccer programming for the kids.