Soccer Camp
Where Reconciliation Through Relationships Began
The Soccer Camp was the first program Project First Nations implemented in a remote First Nation community, beginning with the inaugural Attawapiskat Soccer Camp. Through sport, shared meals, and daily life, Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth formed meaningful friendships that continue for many to this day. At the end of that camp, we made a commitment to continue this work, beginning to understand what Reconciliation Through Relationships could mean in a very real way.
More Than Soccer
The purpose of the Soccer Camp is not simply to teach soccer, but to create the conditions for relationships to grow. It is about building a foundation for mutual respect and shared experience.
help Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth form friendships
connect youth and adults
allow participants to share responsibility
create space for conversation, reflection and understanding
Soccer is the activity that brings people together, but relationship-building is the heart of the program.
Growing Across James Bay
Following the inaugural Attawapiskat Soccer Camp, PFN continued delivering the program annually and expanded the experience to other locations in the James Bay region. This growth happened naturally as relationships, trust and community connections developed.
Attawapiskat First Nation
Where the journey began.
Moosonee
Strengthening regional ties.
build leadership abilities
create opportunities for education and experiential learning
give Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants opportunities to lead, teach and learn from one another
build trust through shared experiences
Destination...next
Expanding the reach of connection.
The Camp Experience
The Soccer Camp is usually held in May or June, outdoors where conditions allow, and is commonly delivered through schools, community centres and other appropriate community spaces, with some camps also delivered indoors in a gymnasium during winter. The program is designed as a shared experience rather than a conventional sports clinic.
- Soccer activities and games
- Leadership opportunities
- Shared meals
- Educational sessions
- Cultural and experiential learning
- Group discussions
- Reflection
- Informal time for friendships to develop
- Opportunities for participants to lead and support one another
What Participants Take With Them
Participants carry with them new friendships, confidence, leadership, and empathy. The camp fosters understanding and new perspectives through shared memories and connection across communities. The camp may last only a few days, but the relationships can last much longer.
The Early Years
The first two Soccer Camps were especially memorable because the visiting group slept together in the arena on cots, and these simple conditions became part of the shared experience. As relationships and trust grew, more connections were formed and the conditions around the program improved over time. The program developed through relationship, trust and experience rather than polished facilities.
Reconciliation Through Relationships
The camp helped us understand that reconciliation grows through ordinary human experiences: playing together, eating together, listening, and laughing. This spending of time together became the foundation of our organization’s philosophy: Reconciliation Through Relationships.
Life Together
Much of the relationship-building happens outside the soccer activities themselves. It occurs in the quiet spaces, the shared tasks, and the daily rhythms of community life.
- We prepare and cook our own food
- We eat together
- Participants spend significant time together throughout the day
- The group meets daily to discuss the events and experiences
- Participants are supported individually when needed
- Youth and adults share responsibility
- Relationships continue to develop beyond scheduled activities
These everyday moments are often where trust and understanding grow.
The Camp Begins Before the Trip
The Soccer Camp does not begin when participants arrive in the host community; preparation starts well before travel. This foundation allows for more depth during the camp itself.
- Educational sessions and learning about the host community
- Conversations about Indigenous history and respectful engagement
- Fundraising events and team building activities
- Communication and relationship-building with the community
- Preparing participants and involving families
It is a community effort long before the first ball is kicked.