The Canadiens celebrate Indigenous cultures
The richness and diversity of Indigenous cultures will be honored at the Bell Centre on Saturday
Members of various Indigenous organizations and communities in Quebec will be present for this evening during which the richness and diversity of Indigenous cultures will be honored.
"We are pleased to pursue our commitment to the ongoing process of reconciliation through initiatives aimed at recognizing, honoring and supporting Indigenous peoples," said Geneviève Paquette, Vice-President of Community Engagement for the Montreal Canadiens. "Hockey is unifying, and every gesture of respect, diversity and equity counts in order to offer everyone the opportunity to practice and enjoy our sport in an inclusive and welcoming environment."
The traditions, languages and skills of these First Peoples will be highlighted as soon as the doors open at the Bell Centre. The starting lineup will be announced in Cree by Dre Bosum, a child from the Eeyou Nation. The national anthem will be performed in French, English and Cree by singer-songwriter
Pakesso Mukash
from the Whapmagoostui First Nation and also a member of the Cree Nation of Eeyou Istchee. Fans will also be able to hear a live performance by
Black Bear
, a traditional pow-wow drum group, during the first intermission.
Upon arrival at the Bell Centre, the Canadiens' coaching staff and players will wear beaded pins, handcrafted by Shannon Cross, a Mohawk artisan from Kahnawà:ke. Prior to the game, Habs players will don special warmup jerseys designed by multidisciplinary artist Meky Ottawa, from the Atikamekw Community of Manawan in Lanaudière. The monochrome design of the sweater, which combines different shades of red, is inspired by a traditional Atikamekw art form, which consists of fabricating various objects, such as canoes and baskets, using birch bark. These handicrafts are then embellished using ancestral techniques like biting or scraping, which consists of scratching the surface of the bark to create contrasting geometric designs, to which floral or animal motifs are often added. These unique collectible items are already up for auction at
indigenous.bidandraise.com
, and the public will have until Tuesday, March 28 at 7:00 p.m. to place their bids. Also committed to fostering inclusion and community, Tim Hortons has chosen to join this initiative by matching the amount raised through this auction, up to a maximum of $15,000. Finally, fans who wish to contribute will be able to do so by purchasing
a T-shirt or hoodie
, inspired by the jersey designed by Meky Ottawa, through the Tricolore Sports store.
All of the proceeds raised through this auction powered by Tim Hortons, as well as through the sale of Indigenous-themed merchandise, will be donated to the
Regroupement des centres d'amitié autochtones du Québec
(RCAAQ). The funds will go towards supporting the RCAAQ's
Educational Success program
, through which learning support services are offered to students and their families in order to promote school retention and academic success of Indigenous youth in urban areas, while also strengthening their cultural identity and empowerment. First Nations youth who frequently visit some of the province's Native Friendship Centres, will have the chance to attend the game thanks to the generosity of the Montreal Canadiens Children's Foundation and Ford Canada, one of the Club's corporate partners.
In addition to being invited to the game by Ford Canada, some 30 children from Kahnawake Minor Hockey will take part in a hockey clinic on the Bell Centre ice on Saturday afternoon. This clinic will be led by former Canadiens player Gaston Gingras, who will be assisted by Emily Pfalzer Matheson, wife of Mike Matheson and winner of a gold medal in women's hockey with Team USA at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, and Codie Cross, spouse of Jordan Harris, who also played for the Northeastern University hockey team and whose family is from the Métis community of Lac Ste. Anna in Alberta.
As part of their Indigenous Celebration Night, the Montreal Canadiens will also donate $30,000 to the
Kanien'kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center
(KORLCC) for the construction of a large-scale, multifunctional and state-of-the-art building and auditorium, which will serve as a community hub. This brand-new facility, which will also house a museum, the Turtle Island Theater and a tourism visitors center, will allow the Mohawk community of Kahnawà:ke to celebrate and share their history, culture, arts and language.
About the Regroupement des centres d'amitié autochtones du Québec
The Regroupement des centres d'amitié autochtones du Québec (RCAAQ) is a provincial association that has been advocating for over 45 years for the rights and interests of Indigenous citizens in cities while supporting the development of the 10 Native Friendship Centres it represents. Thanks to its unifying mission, the RCAAQ has a comprehensive understanding of the issues and challenges faced by Indigenous people who must deal with urban reality. The association works hand in hand with Native Friendship Centres to offer culturally relevant services and contribute to harmony between peoples by promoting Indigenous cultures.
About the Kanien'kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center
Established in 1978, the Kanien'kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center was created to preserve and enrich the language and culture of the Kanien'kehá:ka (Mohawk) of Kahnawà:ke. Located in the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawà:ke south of Montreal, the mission of the KORLCC is to lead and encourage its population to practice, maintain, respect, embrace and preserve Kanien'kéha language, beliefs, values, customs and to ensure the continued existence of their language while fostering awareness and pride in their heritage.
