SUDBURY—Indigenous artist Raven Debassige admitted feeling “daunted” when she was first tasked with creating the design for Indigenous-themed hockey jerseys for the Ontario Hockey League Sudbury Wolves, but also very honoured and proud. This year, Ms. Debassige’s work returns on the new jerseys the Wolves wore for the second annual Indigenous Night game held Saturday, January 6.
“It is with great pride and profound sense of responsibility that we come together to unveil this jersey today,” said team owner Dario Zulich during the Tuesday unveiling. “I am hoping this will be the first of 30 or 40 times we do this. This partnership that we have with Indigenous communities is one based on mutual respect and shared values and a commitment to celebrating the rich and diverse cultures of our Indigenous communities and partners in the North.”
The jerseys were created in partnership with Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre, and the organization was on hand for the unveiling of the second annual Indigenous jersey on Tuesday, January 4.
Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre manager of community relations and health promotion Jordan Assinewe stressed the importance of Indigenous Night and the impact efforts toward reconciliation such as symbolic jerseys have on demonstrating the resilience of Indigenous communities.
“With our collective efforts towards reconciliation, we celebrate the resiliency of Indigenous people in our community, our nation and on Turtle Island,” said Mr. Assinewe. “We celebrate the positive steps we made towards reconciliation—we celebrate the partnerships that we made along the way—and it’s our duty to celebrate the similarities and differences amongst all people for future generations.”
The jersey design grew out of last year’s design and centres on the colour red, which represents the southern door of the medicine wheel and its teachings of growth and empathy, noted Mr. Assinewe during the unveiling. The wolf represents the Seven Grandfathers’ teaching of “carrying yourself with a sense of pride, free from arrogance—with modesty and humbleness with oneself.”
The jerseys were auctioned off following the Saturday night game between the Sudbury Wolves and the Kitchener Rangers, under the auspices of the game’s sponsor Kina Gbezhgomi Child and Family Services. Funds raised from the online auction will be donated to support the Indigenous Youth in Sport and Mental Wellness program.
