The Belleville Senators welcomed their Indigenous neighbours and other special guests to participate in a night of education and understanding on Saturday.
The local AHL club’s Indigenous Communities Night centered on relationship building between the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory and other local and regional First Nations groups during its game against the Utica Comets.
The event, organized by Sens Senior Account Executive of Premium Sales and Service and Mohawk Territory resident Josh Hill, featured a CAA Chuck-A-Puck fundraiser benefitting the Quinte Mohawk School Nutrition program.
Fans also had the opportunity to check out Indigenous businesses showcased in a vendor’s market around the CAA Arena concourse.
The Tyendinaga Mohawk Language and Cultural Centre was one of the organizations represented and parent volunteer Allison Lynn explained she was there to share information to fans on what they do.
“We have really great handouts and coloring pages and printouts and things like that for people to start learning the language or to continue their knowledge of the language,” Lynn said in an interview prior to Saturday’s game.
“There’s even some hockey words and some basic vocabulary that we can share with them, and there’s lots of connecting information to share so people can learn more about the organization.”
Language Educator Laura Morris explained the Indigenous name of the Language and Cultural Centre, Tsi Tyónnheht Onkwawén:na, is meant to bring the Mohawk language back to the forefront.
“They don’t have the language here, so they’re trying to revitalize it and that’s what the name means,” she said.
Joining the Language and Cultural Centre were members of the Little NHL from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory and Alderville First Nation as they took part in a ceremonial puck drop and an intermission scrimmage.
First Nations Technical Institute representatives and members of the National Lacrosse League’s newest franchise, the Ottawa Black Bears, were on hand as well to meet fans, sign autographs, and participate in the celebration.
The Senators also gave away limited-edition team Indigenous t-shirts designed by local artist Kory Parkin throughout the game.
Prior to the game’s start, Sens captain Garrett Pilon, who is of Metis descent, took part in a ceremonial faceoff with players from the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory and Alderville First Nation.
Both Lynn and Morris said the night was a perfect opportunity to come together with each other to celebrate their roots.
“It’s a great opportunity to touch base with lots of these other community organizations to really see what everybody else is doing in their corner on some of the same goals of celebrating, promoting and preserving our culture and language,” Lynn said.
“I hope that they really get the sense that our language is not something of the past, that our culture is not something of the past. It’s vital. It’s living, it’s changing, and it’s something to celebrate.”
Lynn and Morris told residents in and outside the territory can look forward to a new Language and Cultural Centre that is slated to open its doors June 21 – National Indigenous Day, with classes starting in September.
