A hockey game to reconcile

A new logo, a game description in Anishnabe on the radio, the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies game this Saturday had a very special meaning for several Anishnabe who traveled to attend the event as part of the game of the reconciliation of the first peoples.

This is the very first time that the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies organization presented a first peoples reconciliation game. The event was organized in collaboration with the Minwashin organization, whose mission is to support, develop and celebrate Indigenous art, language and culture.

This is the first time this has happened, but it’s important to do small things. It’s better to be beautiful and small than big and ugly. Today it’s very small and it’s perfect like that, I’m very happy with thatexplains Minwashin president Richard Kistabish.

The connection with hockey was obvious according to Richard Kistabish, who mentions that most of the young boys who attended the residential school were big fans of hockey.

We beat all the white teams in the region at that time, they never dared to come to the boarding school because we beat them soundlyjokes Richard Kistabish, who notably remembers facing former Montreal Canadiens forward Pierre Larouche, as well as Guy Lafleur during the first pee-wee tournament in Quebec in which he participated.

I have always loved playing hockey. That’s what saved me when I went to boarding school. Residential school was always negative, but hockey was positive, it was our sportexplains Johnny Kistabish.

A new logo

For the occasion, young artist Julie-Lise Polson created a brand new logo that the Huskies wore on their jersey during Saturday’s game against the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.

Seeing the Huskies players wearing my logo made me super emotional. It made me proud too, but not proud of myself, proud of the progress we are making as indigenous people, of continuing to fight to be heard, of continuing to make people aware of the truth, the real story which was hiddensays Julie-Lise Polson whose grandmother attended the residential school

A description of the match in Anishnabe

Johnny Kistabish was also able to achieve what would be a first in Quebec during the game. He described part of the match live in Anishnabe on the radio.

I found it really exciting, I loved it, I also practiced a lot to do itsays Johnny Kistabish for whom the game had an important meaning.

It’s important for my children, my grandchildren and great-grandchildren, it’s important that we all live together and have funhe adds.

The Rouyn-Noranda Huskies won the match 7 to 5.