Opening ceremonies of the 2023 North American Indigenous Games in Halifax. (Photo via NAIG Council)

By Victor Kaisar

NAIG 2027

Kamloops, Tk’emlúps await word on fate of 2027 North American Indigenous Games bid after Calgary removed as host

Aug 28, 2025 | 12:25 PM

KAMLOOPS — The North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) Council will have more to say in the coming weeks after it announced that Calgary will no longer be hosting the 2027 North American Indigenous Games.

The Alberta city’s bid was picked over the joint bid by Kamloops and Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc in June 2023, and for now, local officials aren’t saying whether the city will be awarded the hosting rights.

“There’s nothing that can be shared publicly about that at this time,” City of Kamloops Corporate Officer Maria Mazzotta said at Wednesday’s (Aug. 27) Community to Community Forum between the City of Kamloops and Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc.

In a statement, the NAIG Council said the decision to retract Calgary’s right to host the games — scheduled for July 2027 — was “not made lightly.”

“Over the past two years, NAIG Council has worked closely with the [Calgary] Host Society to support their efforts — providing guidance, capacity-building support, resources and external expertise to assist with planning and budgeting processes required to deliver a successful Games,” the statement said.

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“Despite the collective efforts of many, it became increasingly clear that critical benchmarks could not be met.”

In its own statement, the Calgary Host Society said an official host agreement “never came to be” because of “shifting requirements and unreasonable demands.”

“At the same time, Tourism Calgary withheld committed operational funding from the City of Calgary, leaving the Host Society without the resources needed to plan and deliver the Games as envisioned,” read the statement.

“The actions that led to this decision run contrary to those commitments and are a step backward for reconciliation in sport and culture.”

Those claims were refuted by Tourism Calgary, according to reporting by CBC News.

“As stewards of public funds, Tourism Calgary invests in events and organizations that demonstrate strong leadership, operational capability, good governance, transparency and the capacity to deliver financially viable outcomes,” a statement to CBC said.

According to the CBC, Tourism Calgary said it “supports the NAIG Council and its difficult decision to withdraw the 2027 Games from Calgary.”

“While this is not the outcome we hoped for, we continue to believe in the vision of the North American Indigenous Games and thank the NAIG Council for acting in the long-term interest of the event and its participants,” it noted.

In its statement, NAIG Council noted its decision to rescind Calgary’s hosting rights was made “following a period of deep reflection and careful consideration.”

“We recognize that this announcement may be deeply disappointing to Indigenous athletes, coaches, families and communities across Turtle Island who were looking forward to gathering in Calgary,” the NAIG Council statement added.

“Our focus now turns to identifying a new path forward-one that protects the spirit and legacy of the Games and minimizes disruption for the youth and communities we serve.”

The North American Indigenous Games is the largest international, multi-sport and cultural event for Indigenous youth in North America. More than 6,000 athletes, coaches, team staff and cultural performers from more than 756 Indigenous Nations in Canada and the United States compete in up to 16 sports over the eight day event.

The Indigenous-led Tk’emlúps bid – which was chosen as B.C’s official host bid in Nov. 2022 – competed against Calgary for the right to host the 2027 North American Indigenous Games.

Officials previously said that the games could generate as much as $15-to-$20-million in economic spending in the host community.

CFJC Today has reached out to NAIG Council president Rick Brant for information on whether there will be another call for hosts or whether the 2027 games will be awarded to Kamloops and Tk’emlúps.

If the games are awarded to Kamloops and Tk’emlúps, it would be the third time the North American Indigenous games are held in B.C., after Victoria in 1997 and Cowichan in 2008.