Hockey drive breaks barriers for Indigenous youth
While hockey may be Canada's national sport, not everyone can afford to play it. As Lexy Benedict reports, one grassroots charity is filling a gap for aspiring hockey players in Indigenous communities.
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Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Basketball players told to put long hair in jerseys, ref facing consequences
An amateur basketball referee has been ordered to forfeit jobs, apologize and take a course on Indigenous culture after asking First Nation boys to tuck in their braids. A minor league game at St. John's High School in Winnipeg's North End ended with tears and frustration for some of the young athletes and family members who were in the stands last Saturday. Sheena Johnston said her 11-year-old was one of three players on a Central Storm basketball team who was told they had to put their long hair inside their jerseys. When her son protested, saying his braid — a nod to his Cree and Ojibwa ancestry — could come loose while he was running, the referee told him to 'figure it out,' she said. 'His self-esteem went low. His hair is his pride and joy,' the mother said, adding she was shocked and angered by the referee's disregard for the cultural symbol. Johnston, who has four children, had never heard of such a request in all of the years she has spent watching her children play recreational sports — including hockey, soccer and volleyball — with braids. Concerns raised by her and other parents prompted a coach to flag the events, including the referee's decision to grab a player who challenged a call on the court, to the league. 'Sports need to be safe places for our young people, where they are not teased about their hair or their choices to share their cultural pride. It's not OK,' said Cheryl James, a mother of a 12-year-old on the boys basketball team. James had to miss the game due to another commitment. She said she was disappointed to learn later on that there had been so many adult bystanders in the gymnasium. The Manitoba Aboriginal Sports and Recreation Council, which runs inner-city recreation programs, has condemned the referee's actions. Co-ordinator Quinton Denechezhe told families immediate steps are being taken to promote inclusivity, protect athletes and address 'the obvious miseducation and inappropriate conduct.' 'There are no rules requiring players to tuck in their braids or long hair, and such a decision is always the discretion of the player,' Denechezhe wrote in a memo Thursday. The email states the referee assignor for the Winnipeg Minor Basketball Association has confirmed the individual in question will forfeit upcoming assignments and issue a written apology. 'The referee will take an education course on Indigenous culture to better understand and respect the cultural practices and traditions of our players,' Denechezhe said, noting he is requesting the individual register in MASRC's 'aboriginal coaching module.' Johnston said she prides herself on braiding her children's hair every morning — a routine during which she gives each child positive affirmations and prays with them. Her boys wanted to grow their hair out after finding out about what happened at residential schools and learning that the braid connects a person to Mother Earth, because it points towards the ground. Indigenous children's braids were chopped off when they arrived at residential schools, an element of the government and church-run institutions' mission to strip their cultural identities. Johnston said her family wants last weekend's events to serve as a learning opportunity for all referees, coaches and athletes. 'We can all learn from this.… Our men and our leaders and our chiefs have always had long hair, and it is just part of who we are as First Nations,' she said. Referee assignor Reid Kenyon echoed those comments in an email. 'Our focus is on ensuring this becomes a learning opportunity for all, as we remain committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment within the game of basketball,' said Kenyon, president of the Manitoba Association of Basketball Officials. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
30-05-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
CFL, nine member clubs donate over $4.5 million to grassroots football programs
TORONTO - The CFL and its nine member clubs invested over $4.5 million into amateur football last year. The league announced Friday that it and the nine franchises combined to donate $4,518,900 to grassroots football initiatives, projects and programs throughout Canada in 2024. 'The community involvement of the CFL, its clubs and players is something that sets us apart from other leagues,' said CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston. 'To be able, among all of the clubs in the league, to donate over $4.5 million is encouraging participation and exposure to the game and ultimately having kids fall in love with the sport. 'That's wonderful for a number of reasons, one of which is the game of football teaches such great skills that can be applied to life.' The CFL said it made 2,019 appearances last year, including 1,023 school visits, with players and staff spending 11,457 hours in communities and reaching more than 84,000 youth. 'Ultimately, football players become football fans,' Johnston said. 'We think we're going to be seeing them at the stadium cheering on their teams as well as watching at home on TV. 'It's a great strategy for us to be involved in the community, be great corporate citizens and develop new fans.' Two of the CFL's initiatives included the Women in Football Program — which provides a platform for participants to develop skills at the professional level — and its partnership with Blackhawk Tires that raised $40,000 through the Touchdowns for Communities, a strategy that provides funding for provincial football organizations to grow female programs across Canada. Among the team initiatives - The Montreal Alouettes supported 50 charitable initiatives and organizations, including amateur football and flag teams. - The Ottawa Redblacks expanded to eight events with six to eight players attending each one to serve as guest coaches at the local minor football level. - The Toronto Argonauts partnered with Football Toronto to create the Argos' equipment bank, a program that recertifies and safeties helmets for their entire 10-year lifespan, and loans them free of charge to high schools across the city. The club also awarded a $50,000 grant to the Ontario Women's Intercollegiate Football Association. - The Hamilton Tiger-Cats' Play It Forward program provides Indigenous youth with opportunities centred around the game of football. The First On the Field Flag Football initiative allows youth from local schools to participate in flag football games at Hamilton Stadium. - The Winnipeg Blue Bombers' football academy welcomed over 800 participants at no cost to develop skills and grow their football IQ. The team's Girls High School Flag Football League returned for a second season, expanding from 18 to 28 schools and over 300 participants with the franchise providing all the necessary equipment. - The Saskatchewan Roughriders' North Sask Football Jamboree incorporates youth teams from across the province for a weekend of competition and skills development. The club's Grow the Game program involves grassroots football across Saskatchewan and introduces the game to non-traditional football communities. - The Calgary Stampeders' rookie class hosts the Jr Stamps Camp for 500 youth at McMahon Stadium. And its Football 101 program features players travelling to school across the city during the off-season. - The Edmonton Elks' Junior High Flag Football League included 29 girls teams and 43 boys teams in association with Metro Athletics. The league ran for five weeks, and eight teams were ultimately showcased at halftime of a preseason game. - The B.C. Lions introduced a new women's flag program, which included two clinics for women and girls aged 12 years and older. And in association with B.C. High School Football, community coaches worked with members of the Lions coaching staff. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2025.
Epoch Times
27-05-2025
- Epoch Times
Aboriginal Group Cuts Ties With Melbourne Storm After Welcome to Country Axing
The Victorian Aboriginal Health Services (VAHS) has ended its alliance with the Melbourne Storm after the National Rugby League club cancelled the Indigenous Welcome to Country ceremony at its Anzac Day home game against the Rabbitohs. In a letter to Melbourne Storm CEO Justin Rodski and approved by VAHS CEO Michael Graham, the VAHS said the 'difficult decision' had been made to withdraw from the partnership, citing disrespect for Indigenous elder Aunty Joy Murphy who would have delivered the ceremony. The Deadly Choices Health Check partnership included the Storm printing the VAHS logo on their warm-up shirts, which were also made available to health check participants. The initiative, at its core, worked to encourage Indigenous Australians to make healthier decisions on diet and exercise, with the VAHS playing a role as a key organiser for Indigenous children to play half-time games. 'The Melbourne Storm Board's decision to cancel the Welcome to Country was disrespectful to Aunty Joy and the Wurundjeri People, has had a ripple effect and hurtful impact on Aboriginal People throughout Naarm (Melbourne) and across the country, and is not reflective of VAHS' values of respect, cultural integrity, and cultural safety,' the VAHS said in a statement 'This decision made by the Melbourne Storm Board demonstrated a lack of respect and cultural sensitivity towards Aboriginal people and communities, specifically in relation to the treatment and recognition of Aunty Joy and the Wurundjeri people, particularly their cultural protocols and practices.' Related Stories 4/26/2025 4/24/2025 VAHS said the move by the Melbourne Storm ran counter to cultural integrity and safety. Aunty Joy Murphy speaks at the Welcome To Country for the Trophy arrival ceremony during day one of the 2024 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Jan. 14, of Ceremony a Misunderstanding: Club The Welcome to Country was cancelled on match day, soon after a group of men booed and heckled Melbourne's flagship Anzac Day dawn service. The Melbourne Storm later issued a statement to say the axing of the ceremony had been a 'misunderstanding' and denied any link to earlier events. 'We will continue to have discussions with First Nations and Māori communities to understand and strengthen our ongoing relationship,' the Storm said in a statement. The Epoch Times contacted the Melbourne Storm for comment on the withdrawal of the VAHS partnership. Not So Welcome to Country Started in the 1970s, the Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement to Country, are ceremonies performed by Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander elders to 'welcome' guests to their land at public events. It has become a topic of debate with those in favour saying the ceremony represents a mark of respect for tradition and culture, while those against say it has lost its relevance and meaning through overuse. Former Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said its overuse would cheapen its significance, while current One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson Additionally, a serviceman who spoke at the Melbourne Dawn Service told reporters some veterans were avoiding Anzac Day services because they felt the Welcome to Country was disrespectful. 'I have a lot of veteran mates who haven't come today solely because of the Welcome to Country because our friends died for this country, for this soil, and for them the 'welcome' is a slap in the face,' he told The ceremony has opposition amongst the Indigenous community, too. Last year, Queensland's Juru Indigenous people
