Ahead of the game

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This article was published 23/10/2017 (3099 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Amina Mohamed is pumped about what she calls a new beginning at Dakota Collegiate.

The former Dakota student, who now attends the University of Manitoba, is hoping other schools in the province will follow the lead of her alma mater, which has ordered custom-made hijabs emblazoned with its Lancers logo for its Muslim student-athletes.

“It’s exciting,” said Mohamed, 17, who was the co-president of the school’s student council before graduating in June. “It’s a new beginning, a great step for Dakota and it’s great to know future athletes will feel accepted for what they wear.”

The introduction of the new hijabs were inspired by Mohamed when she was playing basketball at the school last year and “experienced some conflict” with a referee who raised a safety concern with the hijab she was wearing, fearing it might be unsafe because of the way it was fastened, Mohamed said.

One thing then led to another, and with the help of staff at the school, the teen came up with the idea of an alternative hijab that is tailor-made for sports using a designer in Minneapolis called ASIYA.

“We created a sports hijab for Muslims to wear to participate in athletics, which they can wear easily, that easily slips on and is easily tucked in,” Mohamed said, noting the hijabs are made of polyester and spandex. “These are better materials to absorb sweat and are more breathable.”

Mohamed, and her younger sister, Nusaybah, 16, who is in Grade 11 at Dakota and was the first athlete to wear one of the hijabs in competition, are both hoping the inclusive move will encourage more Muslim girls to participate in sports at the St. Vital-based school in years to come.

“With me graduating, there are so many good things happening here, and I’m so proud to have been part of this. The school cares so much and does so much for so many people,” Mohamed said.   

“It’s super nice to know, looking into the future, that students see that this is now part of the school, and it could even bring in other people to the school and encourage them to play sports,” Nusaybah added.

Mohamed is grateful for the help of the school’s principal, Jill Mathez, who researched the product and offered support.

Mathez believes Dakota is breaking ground and making history with its new, stylized headwear.
“We’re definitely the first school in Canada to customize a sports hijab by adding a team logo,” Mathez said, adding the school is committed to moving with the times.

“It’s interesting because so much of what we’ve done has a focus on male-dominated athletics such as football and soccer, but the reality is that everyone at our school needs to feel part of things,” Mathez said.

“We’re striving to create opportunities and break down barriers and this makes so much sense for female Muslim athletes. No matter who you are at Dakota, if you have an idea about something you want us to look at, we’ll listen, because the student voice is essential. And if it makes sense, then why not do it? It’s just what we do.”

simon.fuller@canstarnews.com