Heritage Day Classic
Bury the Hatchet series highlights Mi’kmaq contributions to Nova Scotia heritage
Hockey series fun and educational.
A two-game hockey series between a team of Mi’kmaq chiefs and councillors and elected government members proved both fun and educational.
The games, played last Saturday in Membertou and Monday in Truro, were arranged to coincide with Heritage Day, which this year celebrated the contributions of the Mi’kmaq community and highlighted their contribution to the game of hockey in particular.
“Our teachings have always been oral, so a lot of people don’t know that the Mi’kmaq handcrafted the first hockey sticks,” said Millbrook Chief Bob Gloade. “They didn’t know the story of where hockey sticks came from, but now thanks to this event, that message is getting out there. That’s all part of the process as we work on education about our treaties so that message can get out there more prominently.”
The team of Mi’kmaq chiefs and councillors beat the government team 9-6 in Membertou and 9-2 in Truro. Gloade said the Mi’kmaq team had a deep bench.
“We had a lot of strong players on the councils, a lot of talented hockey players – our
“We’ve been trying to organize a game like this for a couple years and it went really well.”
team was no push over.”
Albert J. Marshall of Eskasoni carved three commemorative hockey sticks from yellow birch for the event and Mi’kmaq artist Alan Syliboy decorated the sticks.
Syliboy also adapted the Thundermaker image to create a logo for each team.
Senator Dan Christmas dropped the puck for Chief Mike Sack of Sipekne’katik and Geoff Regan, MP for Halifax West and Speaker of the House of Parliament.
At the start of the third period both teams joined hands and formed a circle at centre ice for a round dance.
“The round dance is done for peace and unity, to bring people together, so that was a lot of fun,” said Gloade. “It was much harder on skates, hard on the hips, you could really feel the burn.”
Gloade says about 200 people watched the game in Truro and afterwards filled the Millbrook Community Hall for the traditional feast.
“The whole day went extremely well,” said Gloade. “It was a real great opportunity to get to know members of the provincial staff, to get to know better the members of the government we already knew directly and to meet new people. We’ve been trying to organize a game like this for a couple years and it went really well.”
Gloade says it was especially nice to see the elected officials participating like Regan, Darren Fisher, MP for Dartmouth - Cole Harbour, and Tony Ince, MLA for Cole Harbour-Portland Valley and the provincial Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage.
Asked about another game or games next year, Gloade said it was everyone’s intention but he wasn’t sure.
“Maybe you should have taken it easier on them?” asked a reporter.
“We did take it easy on them,” said Gloade with a big laugh. “But they have a whole year to search their talent pool.”
Millbrook Chief Bob Gloade