Creating Space for Indigenous hockey

Residential School in Lebret tells a tale filled of positive memories of Junior A hockey and our own teams, creating a Safe Space for Indigenous youth to excel late in the residential school era. In 1993 Lebret Eagles played their inaugural season in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey league being the first Indigenous Owned hockey franchise. This was a significant achievement for Late Chief Irvin Starblanket on being accepted into a league known worldwide for hockey pedigree. This would set the stage for Starblanket and Watson to build a legacy of hockey excellence in Saskatchewan, but most importantly creating spaces in mainstream for Indigenous youth.

Before the Lebret Eagles it was rare to see an Indigenous player in the league, thereafter, at least two or three Indigenous players played on a SJHL team. Longtime hockey builder, former FSIN chief Morley Watson was assistant general manger and one of the founding members of the Lebret Eagles Junior A Hockey Club. Morley continues to do what he loves in developing young indigenous hockey players, as he works for Waywaysecappo Wolverines who play in the Manitoba Junior A Hockey league.

Being a student in Lebret during this time gave me instant role models leaving a positive lifelong good impression for us contemporary residential school survivors. This created a safe place for an Indigenous athlete to develop skills integral to survival not only in hockey but life. However, we had good system hockey dominating our leagues with ease year in, year out. This brought the worst out in our opponents, so we had to be called down in the communities we played in consistently.  When I think back to those days, I am grateful for my fellow teammates for being there taking the racism as a team being all indigenous. This is once again creating spaces for our Indigenous hockey players despite discriminatory behaviour from our opponents.

Indigenous Sports Academy U17&U18 AA Eagles national hockey program creates a Safe Space for Indigenous athletes to develop an elite hockey intelligence, good work ethic and an Indigenous perspective to teach our ways of knowing. Academy creator Courage Bear operates through commitment to sport, being a player, coach and mentor for several hockey players for decades, but has a deep love for people and the game of hockey. Coach Bear understands the barriers young Indigenous players experience, tries to alleviate these pressures by brining in elders to assist this difficult journey being Indigenous in Canada.

Smudging is an important part of being Indigenous for it has many positive teachings like pureness, cleansing the mind, body and sprit to guide you and to give you strength. The Indigenous Sports Academy Smudges.  Thank you, Courage, for your contribution to the lives of these young men and the space you’ve created for our young people to thrive. To get a better idea of what this program is about view “Breaking Down Barriers Episode 5: The story of Courage Bear/Indigenous Sports Academy”.

The Round Lake Bears played in the Provincial A hockey tournament made it to semi finals, which is a big accomplishment. However, the success the Bears experienced was short lived because they were denied entry in all leagues this season. A quote by Round Lake Bears Facebook page; “We are committed to fighting for our rightful place in the hockey world and for the principles of fairness and equality. Our team will continue to train hard, support each other, and strive for excellence on and off the ice”.

Playing sports is an act of Reconciliation in fact the TRC’s Call to Action 89 – Reduce barriers to sports participation, increase the pursuit of excellence in sport, and build capacity in the Canadian sport system, are inclusive of aboriginal peoples.

Thank you, hockey builders, for taking on these challenges in” Creating Space” for our youth. With the discrimination our young people have to endure past and present and future, lets give the utmost respect to our hockey builders/protectors/legends in Late Irvine Starblanket, Chief Morley Watson, Courage Bear/ISA Eagles. Lastly, the Round Lake Bears by never giving up the battle to belong in mainstream hockey. Nothing will stop the drive to be treated fair and just in Saskatchewan hockey. We will always stay positive and strive forward as a nation.