b'MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENTThe Life-Altering Power of SportW e all know that physical activityrecreationprogramsandmajorsporting has long-term benefitsstudiescompetitions are on the rise. Today we find more haveshownthatitimprovesand more Indigenous athletes pursuing sport education,employmentandexcellence and going on to build competitive reducescrime.Companiescareers in both traditional Indigenous sports and that support recreation and physical activity orsome of the worlds largest professional sports. promote mental health also know the value that sports and wellness bring to their business.There are well over 50,000 Aboriginal businesses in JP Gladu Staying physically active in mind and body hasCanada operating in every sector, size and region, President and CEO the power to build self-esteem and leadershipincluding the sports sector. With Indigenous skillssomething I can vouch for from personalentrepreneurs creating businesses at nine times experience. But it is far more meaningful than that.the rate of the average non-Indigenous Canadian, @ccab_national Many Indigenous communities that once facedthis figure is rising rapidly. We now have numerous barriers to participating in organized sport were ableCCAB members affiliated with sports. Some are former or current athletes that have become @Canadian Council forAboriginal Business to transform themselves once those barriers were removed. The introduction of athletics and otherentrepreneurs; many operate businesses in the @Canadian Council for recreation activities helped create more dynamic,health sector that promote traditional, holistic or Aboriginal Business healthy communities overall. Where sports programswestern approaches to well-being.www.ccab.com endure, we see improvement in the mental, spiritual @ccab_national and cultural connectedness of Indigenous peoples. Sports leagues and organizations are participating in our Progressive Aboriginal Relations (PAR) Fortunately, with Indigenous peoples being theprogram, which helps them to address the widening youngest and fastest growing demographic insocio-economic gap between Indigenous and Canada, cultural youth programs, communitynon-Indigenous peoples and businesses. It shows Strengthening RelationshipsDeveloping Opportunitiescpr.ca/careers8A CCAB PUBLICATION2020'