Invictus Games bring meaningful Indigenous inclusion at major international event

Athletes and spectators at the 2025 Invictus Games will be part of the first international multi-sport games fully inclusive of the four local First Nations hosts.

Canada will see a new meaning to the power of sport through full, meaningful Indigenous inclusion in a major international Games, said 2025 Invictus Games board member Wilson Williams (Sxwixwtn).

"We're playing host to the world and we're a major part of it," said Williams, a spokesperson and council member of the Squamish Nation.

Squamish is one of the four host nations whose lands the Invictus Games take place on, alongside Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh and Líl̓wat nations.

Created by Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, the Invictus Games encourage recovery and rehabilitation to wounded, injured and sick service men and women across the world through the power of sport.

This is the second time Canada will host the Invictus Games, following Toronto in 2017, and will debut adaptive winter sports in addition to the previous core five sports. Fifty-six current and former service men and women competing for Team Canada across all events.

Williams said the Invictus Games, which kick off Saturday, are an example of "international reconciliation" with Canada.

Indigenous involvement in the Games is part of their commitment to uphold the Truth and Reconciliation's call to action No. 91, which calls on Canada to include Indigenous nations in the planning and participation of major international games.

"This is among the first times, including for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games, that an international governing body has awarded a major event at the invitation of and with the support of the Four Host Nations on whose land these Games will be played," Robyn McVickar,