Key Takeaways
- First Tee – Canada has engaged over 13,000 Indigenous youth since 2021 through school programs, community events, introductory clinics, and on‑course experiences.
- The initiative relies on more than 40 partnerships with Indigenous schools, communities, organizations, and golf facilities spanning all provinces.
- Indigenous‑led coaching (more than 20 coaches) integrates culturally relevant approaches into the First Tee life‑skills curriculum.
- Regional highlights include collaborations with the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil‑Waututh Nations in B.C.; the 7 Generations Golf Association in Alberta; Isaac Beaulieu Memorial School in Manitoba; Indigenous Sport and Wellness Ontario in Ontario; Club 24 Athletics Foundation in Quebec; and various Mi’kmaq and Wabanaki groups in Atlantic Canada.
- National Indigenous Peoples Day serves as a platform to showcase these relationships and to celebrate progress toward a more inclusive golf community.
Overview of First Tee – Canada’s Indigenous Outreach
First Tee – Canada launched in 2021 with the explicit goal of making golf accessible and welcoming for Indigenous youth while teaching the program’s core life skills—confidence, perseverance, respect, and responsibility. By June 2024 the organization reported reaching more than 13,000 Indigenous participants through a blend of school‑based curricula, community events, introductory golf clinics, and on‑course experiences. The model hinges on local partnerships: Indigenous schools, bands, sport councils, and golf facilities co‑design programming that reflects cultural values and community needs. More than twenty Indigenous coaches, many of whom are chapter champions, deliver the curriculum, ensuring that instruction is both relevant and respectful. This nationwide network demonstrates how sport can serve as a bridge for cultural exchange, skill development, and lasting community bonds.
British Columbia: Building Foundations with Coastal Nations
In British Columbia, First Tee – BC has forged relationships with several coastal First Nations, including the Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil‑Waututh, Williams Lake, Westbank, and Kamloops Nations. Programming is delivered through school partnerships, community events, and special activations tied to the BC Golf Indigenous Championship. This year, the chapter hosted an introductory golf clinic during the championship and set up a booth at one of the province’s largest National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations, drawing youth and families to try the sport in a festive, supportive setting. Additional outreach events are planned for remote communities throughout the summer, aiming to reduce geographic barriers. By aligning with local leadership and integrating traditional teachings into the life‑skills modules, First Tee – BC creates spaces where Indigenous youth can see golf as both a recreational pursuit and a vehicle for personal growth.
Alberta: Collaborations Driven by the 7 Generations Golf Association
Alberta’s First Tee – Alberta chapter works closely with the 7 Generations Golf Association, Cold Lake First Nations, the Indigenous Sport Council of Alberta, Alexander First Nation, and schools in Frog Lake and Tsuut’ina Nations. For National Indigenous Peoples Day, the chapter partnered with 7 Generations to host an introductory golf clinic at Redwood Meadows Golf Course for youth from Tsuut’ina Nation. Indigenous First Tee coaches, including chapter champion Andrew Fox, led the session, weaving cultural storytelling and traditional values into the curriculum’s focus on goal‑setting and respect. Fox emphasized that the collaboration reflects a shared mission to make golf more inclusive and to empower Indigenous youth through sport. The chapter’s approach highlights how locally rooted organizations can amplify national programs by providing authentic cultural context and trusted community liaisons.
Manitoba: Prairie Partnerships and Community‑Based Coaching
In Manitoba, First Tee – Prairies partners with Isaac Beaulieu Memorial School in Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation and operates programming at The Players Course, a First Nation‑owned golf facility in Winnipeg. The chapter also collaborates with Indigenous coach Darcy Zariwney, who delivers First Tee lessons to youth from Gladstone and surrounding towns at the Gladstone Golf & Country Club. Coach Darcy’s role exemplifies the program’s commitment to employing Indigenous instructors who understand local customs and can adapt the life‑skills framework to resonate with participants. By using a First Nation‑owned course, the initiative removes financial and transportation barriers while reinforcing community pride in a facility that is both economically beneficial and culturally significant. These efforts illustrate how regional hubs can sustain year‑round engagement beyond seasonal events.
Ontario: Expanding Reach through Indigenous Sport and Wellness Ontario
Ontario’s First Tee – Ontario chapter has cultivated a strong alliance with Indigenous Sport and Wellness Ontario (ISWO), enabling programming in Mattagami First Nation, Marten Falls First Nation, Six Nations of the Grand River, Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, and Akwesasne. The partnership leverages ISWO’s existing networks to identify community champions, secure facilities, and promote participation. Looking ahead to 2026, the chapter plans to expand further by hosting a clinic at the Golf Ontario Indigenous Championship and establishing a new partnership with the Mushkegowuk Council, which will bring First Tee to several remote northern communities. This forward‑looking strategy underscores the scalability of the model when anchored by provincial Indigenous sport organizations that possess deep insight into regional needs and logistical challenges.
Quebec and Atlantic Canada: Regional Partnerships and Summer Initiatives
In Quebec, First Tee – Quebec collaborates with the Club 24 Athletics Foundation to introduce golf to youth in Kahnawake through summer camp programming at Mistic Pines Golf Club. All coaches involved identify as Indigenous, and the foundation uses sport and education to nurture future community leaders. On the East Coast, First Tee – Atlantic works with the Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq, Aboriginal Sport & Recreation New Brunswick, and schools such as John J. Sark Memorial School in Prince Edward Island. These regional partnerships enable culturally tailored clinics, school‑based sessions, and community events that respect local traditions while teaching the program’s life‑skill curriculum. By summer 2024, the Atlantic chapter had already delivered multiple introductory camps and planned additional outreach in underserved areas, demonstrating a commitment to equitable access across Canada’s diverse geographic landscape.
National Impact, Celebrations, and Path Forward
Across the country, First Tee – Canada’s Indigenous initiatives are creating accessible, positive experiences that foster confidence, perseverance, and a sense of belonging among youth and their families. National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21 serves as an annual milestone to celebrate these relationships, showcase successes, and reinforce the shared vision of a more inclusive golf community. The program’s continued growth relies on sustaining trust with Indigenous partners, expanding the pool of Indigenous coaches, and adapting curricula to reflect the distinct cultures of each community. As chapters plan future events—such as championship clinics, summer camps, and remote‑community outreaches—they build on a foundation laid by over 40 collaborations and the participation of more than 13,000 Indigenous youth. The ongoing work illustrates how sport, when guided by respect, partnership, and cultural relevance, can contribute to broader goals of reconciliation, health, and empowerment for Indigenous peoples throughout Canada.