Indigenous youth celebrate culture and sport in hockey-filled weekend

Indigenous youth from remote and northern Manitoba communities enjoyed a hockey weekend of celebration and empowerment thanks to the Winnipeg Aboriginal Sport Achievement Center (WASAC).

The Follow Your Dreams initiative kicked off Saturday with a morning ice skate at Camp Manitou. Youth from Pauingassi, Northlands Denesuline, Shamattawa and Minegoziibe Anishinabe First Nations, as well as children from the Bunibonibee Cree Nation and the Métis community of the Duck Bay First Nation participated.

Attendees spent the morning skating with NHL alumni Trevor Kidd and John Chabot, and Winnipeg Jets scout Sydney Daniels.

“I think it’s important for youth to see people from similar backgrounds who are thriving and succeeding in all facets of life,” said WASAC Executive Director Trevor Laforte. “Just seeing role models for yourself… and the more examples we give them, the better it is.”

The weekend continued with the Winnipeg Jets’ WASAC night at the Canada Life Centre. The Jets wore special WASAC jerseys during warm-up, and the visiting Edmonton Oilers also wore an Indigenous version of their uniform.

“We said why don’t we celebrate our common history, and let’s do it through the voices of Indigenous children, youth and our elders,” said Kevin Chief WASAC Co-Founder and Senior Advisor for Community Development at True North Sports & Entertainment. “And let’s do it in the loudest barn in the National Hockey League!”

Chief said the participants had a great time at the game. “Last night was amazing, we saw the Dakota Choir, we heard the Long Plain First Nation drum group, the Spirit Horse Singers,” he said.

Former First Nations Assembly national leader Phil Fontaine attended the puck drop along with other Indigenous dignitaries. Chief said Fontaine couldn’t believe the support he saw at the game.

“(He) said he was blown away by the way the fans reacted to the celebration of indigenous culture and pride that we had…it brought him to tears,” Chief said.

The Jets beat the Oilers 7-5. Chief said it was an incredible evening of celebration and empowerment.

“You can’t tell young people something is possible, you have to show them,” Chief said. “The best way to show young people what’s possible is to celebrate. Celebrate these success stories.”

The groups were back at Canada Life Place on Sunday afternoon watching the Manitoba Moose defeat the Chicago Wolves 5-3.

Here, too, the home team wore special jerseys and fans could learn more about indigenous artists in the arena’s hall.

Chief said it is important to focus on these positive stories to inspire Indigenous youth.

“We often hear stories of hardship and struggle in the indigenous community,” Chief said. “But every story of hardship, every story of struggle that you hear, there are literally hundreds and hundreds of success stories of accomplishment and resilience, and we celebrated that.”

Jets and Moose jerseys will be auctioned off in the coming weeks, with proceeds supporting WASAC initiatives.