Weekend of hockey, weekend of pride

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 04/04/2022 (1448 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

HEADINGLEY — The sounds echoed in the Camp Manitou ice rink as the women-led Southern Thunderbird Medicine Drum group sang out into the unseasonably cold March morning.

The thumping of the drum, so heavy you could feel it all the way in your soul, is an invitation to gather in ceremony and celebration. On this day, the thumping was in honour of the partnership between the Winnipeg Aboriginal Sport Achievement Centre and True North Sports and Entertainment Ltd., and their commitment to investing in youth.

A fair-sized group had gathered at the spot for the unveiling of the new WASAC and Follow Your Dreams jerseys and a cheque presentation event at Camp Manitou, in Headingley. Many in attendance were wearing shirts and hoodies bearing the Indigenized Winnipeg Jets logo — an NHL first of its kind, designed four years ago by Leticia Spence of Pimicikamak Cree Nation.

John Olfert, True North president and chief operating officer, presented Lindsay Campbell, WASAC North co-ordinator, with a giant cheque for $43,447.85 — proceeds from retail initiatives that will be invested back into Indigenous youth throughout Manitoba.

It was the lead-up to the Jets’ WASAC Night (Saturday) and Manitoba Moose Follow Your Dreams weekend that played host to hundreds of Indigenous youth, with more than 30 from northern and remote communities including: Pauingassi, Northlands Denesuline, Bunibonibee, Shamattawa, Pine Creek, and the Métis of Duck Bay.

As well as attending the WASAC Night and Follow Your Dreams hockey games, the young people enjoyed a morning of activity at Camp Manitou, including participating in a Project 11 mindful movement session led by Métis yoga instructor Reid Davies, and a skating session on the camp’s outdoor rink with former NHLers Trevor Kidd and Jason Simon and Olympic Gold medallist Jocelyne Larocque.

“(It is) a celebration of Indigenous culture, and the special relationship that True North has with the Indigenous community,” said Trevor LaForte, executive director of WASAC, as he spoke at the podium at last week’s event.

The careful planning that went into the weekend was no small feat. The group at WASAC, including LaForte, Kevin Chief and a small but mighty group of staff and volunteers, have spent countless hours organizing and mapping out a weekend that will create lasting memories for youth and their families.

“It’s non-stop organizing,” said Chief. “It looks simple, but hours and hours of work goes into it. Everyone (at WASAC) just has to take a chunk of the work and whatever you’re asked to do, you do.”

The team at WASAC is happy to do the work, because they know how special the weekend is. It’s not just about the hockey, though attending a Jets and a Moose game is certainly a big draw, the real celebration is the sense of recognition and pride that many of the young attendees will carry after the weekend is over.

All of the small components, such as the Indigenized logos on the jerseys being worn by local hockey heroes, the on-ice presentations, the land acknowledgement (at every Jets and Moose home game), and the Canadian anthem sung in Cree by students from Isaac Brock School, adorned in ribbon skirts and matching outfits as elder Percy Ballantyne drums along, are woven together to create a most beautiful ceremony.

This year, DJ and producer Boogey the Beat, composed the WASAC Night song titled Bangishimon, an Anishinaabe word translating to “sunset” in reference to the song’s efforts to capture the natural beauty of Treaty 1 territory musically. The drumbeat in the song is like the heartbeat of the evening — a sound of gathering and life. It is provided by Southern Thunderbird Medicine Drum.

Every single piece of the WASAC Night and Follow Your Dreams weekend, and the previous years, have been thoughtfully planned and are filled with symbolism and meaning. They have created a great sense of pride for not only the youth, but for all Indigenous people.

“We’re at our best when we celebrate,” said Chief, who is quick to list off each person, group and performer that had a hand in making the weekend so special. “There’s no better way or place to showcase the strength and resilience of our Indigenous culture than by sharing the gifts and talents of Indigenous children, youth, and elders.”

Both the Jets WASAC jerseys and the Moose Follow Your Dreams jerseys will be auctioned off to raise funds that will be put back into the WASAC initiative to create opportunity for Indigenous youth across the province (auctions.nhl.com/manitobamoose; auctions.nhl.com/Winnipegjets).

Fans can get WASAC and Follow Your Dreams apparel at any of the five Jets Gear locations or online at the site TrueNorthShop.com. A portion of WASAC merchandise proceeds go back to the WASAC initiative.

shelley.cook@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter @ShelleyACook