Please click this attachment to view the full list of games:
Indigenous Field Games are fun, educational activities that promote skills development through physical activity and cultural immersion. Indigenous traditional games were an important way to carry on with traditions and develop needed skills such as agility, communication, teamwork, strength, balance, reflexes, hand-eye coordination, accuracy, strategy, intuition, and patience. These are skills Indigenous hunters, gatherers and fishermen relied on to feed their communities. We want to respect, share, and honour these teachings by immersing groups to traditional field games historically played by indigenous groups all over Canada. We invite members of your community to share their own traditional games.
These are suggested activities that can be presented Independently by us or in collaboration with existing community needs and events. We believe in collaboration, so we welcome local expertise and knowledge.
How to host Traditional Field Games in your Community or Group/ Good for all ages
Contact Information
Vanessa Lozecznik lives in the Ktunaxa territory in the West and East Kootenay you can contact her at wkprevention@gmail.com
Roxanne L’Esperance lives with the Secwepemc people you can contact her at roxlesp@telus.net
Ideally this initiative will be host in two days to talk about history and prepare games by immersing children and adults in traditional harvesting and collection. However, we have adapted this initiative to be a one-day event to provide you with an introduction to traditional field games in schools or group settings. We will lead a group discussion to help you debrief the activity or we can give you a teacher’s guide to reflect on the activity with your class.
This is an all-season experiential learning activity for teachers and community organizers to guide discussions and promote traditional practices.
Who we are:
Vanessa and Roxanne are independent contractors under the Gambling Support BC. Providing British Columbians with free counselling, information, and resources to support informed choices and healthy behaviours with respect to gambling and gaming.
Roxanne L’Esperance I am of Metis descent, originating from the Red River Valley Settlement, in Manitoba, of 1870. After which my descendants resettled to Southern Saskatchewan, near Willow Bunch. Our family moved to BC in 1967, and into the 100 Mile House area in 1975. I have been invited and welcomed into many communities of BC over the years, to deliver services.
I have been working with people, mostly in the Interior of BC, since 1992. Before Social Work I was involved in Forestry, Silviculture, and Fine Arts. In 1991 I completed the Human Service Worker Program with honors. That winter I also completed the Life Skills Coach Training and was awarded my certificate. After a couple of years delivering Life Skills programs to various groups, in schools, agencies, on and off reserve, in the Interior, and the Yukon, I facilitated the COPE program in 100 Mile House. As part of my education I also attended and completed the Nechi Institute Community Addictions Training, followed by the Advanced Counselling Training. I worked for the Canoe Creek Indian band as A&D counsellor for 2 years, and then moved to Kamloops for the Addictions counsellor position at the Interior Indian Friendship Society for 4 years. Leaving the centre, I was the Coordinator for Aboriginal Students at UCC for 2 years, and then 4 1/2 years as Tenant Relations Coordinator for Kamloops Native Housing.
Since April 1, 2008, I have been an independent contractor for the BC Gambling Support Program. My mandate is to educate and raise awareness on gambling/problem gambling to the people of Kamloops and area. I have been delivering presentations to children, youth, parents, adult, and elders/seniors, in schools, agencies, local bands, and work sites. The Gambling Support Program is gaming neutral, to include gamblers, and non-gamblers alike.
Vanessa Lozecznik Vanessa grew up in Chile surrounded by the beautiful Andes. She moved to Winnipeg to continue her education in Natural Resources and specialised in adult transformative learning experiences. She directed two documentaries using participatory platforms. After completing her master’s she worked with Metis and Indigenous communities in Manitoba developing food security projects and learned so many new skills. During her maternity leave she moved to a land cooperative to learn about sustainable and community living. After enough mosquitos and prairie winters she and her family fled to the Kootenays. Since her arrival in BC she has been working in two different roles, one of a coordinator for the Community Action Program for Children and as a Prevention Specialist for Gambling Support BC. In the Kootenays, she loves exploring the land with her family, baking, painting and gardening.