Red Tape Athletic Fund Launches to Support Indigenous University Athletes Across Atlantic Canada

November 22, 2025 (Halifax, NS) – A new fund has officially launched to support Indigenous university athletes across Atlantic Canada. The Red Tape Athletic Fund, created by Dr. Cheryl MacDonald, Chief Executive Officer of Sport New-Nouveau Brunswick, in partnership with the Ulnooweg Indigenous Communities Foundation. This new designated fund will provide scholarships, bursaries, and grants to Indigenous student-athletes navigating systemic barriers rooted in colonialism.

The Fund will support students at any Atlantic University Sport (AUS) institutions who demonstrate athletic achievement, academic promise, and community involvement. It is rooted in the values of accountability, inclusion, and reconciliation through sport.

Born from a Movement

The Red Tape Athletic Fund builds on the momentum of the Red Tape movement, which began in 2019 when Logan Prosper, a 16-year-old Mi’kmaq hockey player from Cape Breton, was racially targeted during a U18 game. Rather than walking away from the sport, Logan and his father Phillip Prosper created the Red Tape initiative to raise awareness of racism in hockey and promote personal responsibility in combatting it.

The movement rapidly gained national attention, with support reaching Ontario, Quebec, and New York. NHL players like, Akim Aliu and Cody McCormick offered encouragement and advice, and Hockey Nova Scotia responded by creating a task force to address discrimination. The Prosper family’s efforts have continued to inspire youth-led action and institutional change in sport.

Inspired by the movement and its growing impact, Dr. MacDonald wished to partner with Ulnooweg Indigenous Communities Foundation in order to create a region-wide fund that could grow beyond a single institution or award cycle.

Advancing Equity and Indigenous Representation in Sport

Research consistently highlights the underrepresentation of Indigenous students in Canadian post-secondary institutions and varsity sports. Many require additional recruitment efforts, academic and athletic support, and community-grounded resources to thrive (Restoule et al., 2013; Frawley et al., 2017; Ottmann, 2017).

“This fund is about creating real opportunities—not just recognition,” says Dr. MacDonald. “It reflects a commitment to structural change, to Indigenous university athletes who are dedicated to academics and community.”

The Fund prioritizes applicants who demonstrate leadership and community involvement, continuing the Red Tape movement’s original call for action and responsibility.

A Vision for the Future

The Red Tape Athletic Fund is open to further donations and contributions. It is structured to be responsive, non-endowed, and accessible—able to disburse both capital and investment income directly to qualified donees and student recipients.

Ulnooweg Indigenous Communities Foundation will steward the Fund with transparency and community input.

“The Red Tape Athletic Fund reflects the values we stand for at Ulnooweg—empowerment, resilience, and community,” says Chris Googoo, Executive Director of the Ulnooweg Indigenous Communities Foundation. “We are honoured to support this vision and ensure Indigenous university student-athletes across Atlantic Canada can thrive, lead, and carry their voices into every arena they enter.”

By supporting Indigenous excellence in both sport and education, the Red Tape Athletic Fund seeks to empower the next generation of changemakers on the field, in the classroom, and with their communities.

To donate and learn more, visit: https://ulnoowegfoundation.ca/philanthropicfunds/red-tape-fund/ 

 

2025–26 Red Tape Award Application Opens Monday, November 24th

The inaugural Red Tape Award, an initiative of the Red Tape Athletic Fund, will open for applications on Monday, November 24, 2025 and close on Friday, January 23, 2026. One Indigenous student-athlete currently competing in Atlantic University Sport (AUS) will be selected to receive a $1,000 award.

About the Award
Made possible through the generosity of the MacDonald Family, the Red Tape Award provides $1,000 annually to support the recipient’s educational or athletic journey. The family has pledged this support for five years and welcomes additional contributions to help ensure the award’s long-term sustainability.

The inaugural 2025–26 award will be presented exclusively to a current Indigenous AUS athlete at Saint Mary’s University, in recognition of the university’s early role in supporting and amplifying the Red Tape Movement. Beginning in 2026–27, the award will expand to include Indigenous athletes from all AUS institutions.

Full award details and application guidelines can be found at:
https://ulnoowegfoundation.ca/red-tape-award/

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Media Contact:
Andrea Durfee
Communications Manager, Ulnooweg Indigenous Communities Foundation
[email protected] | 902-809-7580