Some thoughts and suggestions from a parent/grandparent who was there from the start to the present
To the Expositor:
I’m 70-years-old now and would like to help as an elder.
My thoughts and suggestions re: The L’NHL 2017. It originated in Little Current by the Shawandas of Birch Island, AOK and West Bay. It is time we bring L’NHL back close to our First Nations and help boost our own economy by supporting our small businesses and activities. We have been spending a great deal of money off reserve for the past few years for gas, food and accommodations in Mississauga etc.
Can another First Nation host the 2017 L’NHL Tournament? If so, I would suggest it in Sault Ste. Marie (SSM) and SSM, Michigan. Perhaps Garden River and Ktigaanziibeh or Rankin would host it, or even in Batchewana in conjunction with the SSM, Michigan, Soo tribe.
The Soo tribe have the Big Bear Arena that has an Olympic-size ice surface and one other regular ice surface that would serve well for the midget and bantam teams.
The Rankin arena can be dedicated to the girl hockey teams from tykes to midgets. All other teams’ tykes to peewees can be played in and around the Soo arenas.
There are several new hotels, Quatro and Microtel, for accommodations to those already available hotels and motels in SSM. In the SSM, Michigan side are more hotels/motels and Kewadin hotel for accommodations for hockey teams, perhaps the midget/bantam teams, as they would play at the Big Bear Arena.
To have it in the SSM area would definitely boost the Native gas stations, Noel’s Restaurant, drive thrus for food, as well as the convenience stores, crafts stores and craft people. Food vendors at arenas would be a big boost to the vendors via serving Native food. The two bingo halls in Garden and Rankin would benefit as well we have the Kewadin Casino and SSM casino for us adults.
I’m also thinking there are activities for our children: movies, billiards, bowling etc. For one, and on the other side of SSM, Michigan has a theatre that has a lineup of movies daily. (Hope it’s still open, a friend of mine went and only two people were in her show?)
We should be able to work well with the reserves and the Soo Tribe as we get a lot of support from them when we hold the Anishinaabewin Teg Conference every year.
Another thought is the travel time for some First Nation teams would be closer, by driving through the US to get to SSM or SSM, Michigan, Walpole Island, Sarnia and more. With respect to going back and forth for hockey games in Canada to the US, it may be a challenge for some. The trick is to allow yourselves more time at peak hours. We timed ourselves one morning just to see how long it takes. From our hotel across the bridge and to get to Rankin arena it took us 20 minutes. This was 7 am in the morning and not much traffic.
I hope this is the last year at Mississauga arena, elevators broke and long food lines. It is so far away and very expensive. Most fans are left at home and can’t afford a week away. If it was closer it would be affordable to attend one or two games or attend one or two days and return home at the end of the day. (Four ice surfaces is very convenient, but it was chaotic and like a zoo/circus with people all over the place, players arriving or leaving, looking for rooms etc.)
I also found the distance from one site to another arena a little dangerous. Some accidents did occur as you had to find the off-ramp and get on the freeway for 15 minutes or so, then get off to arena.
Once we found the arena for our tykes, I was discouraged to see a very old arena and tiny ice surface. (Like the one they had in Sheg and us spectators sitting along the boards—some exaggeration yeah!) There were no activities in the immediate area where everyone was staying (had to drive into city for this). L’NHL should be brought back to us to boost our economy and support our food, craftspeople and businesses.
My other venue is to host in Sudbury. (Note the Silver Stick started here years ago and it’s still on today.) Perhaps in conjunction with Whitefish Lake First Nation. Again, it is closer for some First Nations originals. Sudbury has now two large ice surfaces at Countryside that would serve well for the midgets and bantams. The girl teams can be set up at Walden Arena, tykes to midgets. All other teams tykes to Peewees can be in and around the Sudbury arenas, Chelmsford, Azilda, Val Caron, Copper Cliff, Coniston and Falconbridge arena if still there. I think the utilization of more arenas would be manageable and for us not so rushed or chaotic. There are many activities for our children in Sudbury as well. As Silver City and bowling, billiards and for the adults there are two bingo halls in Sudbury and Val Caron and the casino. Rainbow Cinemas will be opened by another name by 2017. There are many restaurants, drive thrus etc and the hotels offer a breakfast with rooms. (A hotel/motel listing should be made of what is available in and around the Sudbury area.) Again, craftspeople of First Nations would be encouraged to set up their food, crafts vending in the arenas, especially our photo business. Whitefish Lake First Nation could prepare to have gas, and food, to boost their business. Again, Sudbury would be close enough that fans at home can go and watch one or two games or stay one night and return home the next day. It is affordable.
Rose Marie Trudeau
Wikwemikong
