Closing out Reconciliation Week in Lethbridge, the City is partnering with the Lethbridge Hurricanes Hockey Club, as they welcome hockey fans to a night of Indigenous cultural celebration on Friday.
This is the first time the community-owned hockey team has hosted a themed night celebrating Indigenous culture.
According to the City, the partnership aligns with its ongoing efforts to promote reconciliation in the community by highlighting Indigenous cultural identity and heritage. These efforts help to create a shared understanding of what reconciliation means to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in southern Alberta.
“Working to support the Hurricanes in promoting Indigenous culture is a fantastic way to engage with a wide-range of people in the community,” says Echo Nowak, Indigenous relations specialist. “Working towards reconciliation doesn’t always have to be hard and serious. This partnership shows people you can enjoy a great night out at the rink, while celebrating Indigenous culture too.”
“The Hurricanes are excited to partner with the City to further promote reconciliation in our community,” says Kathy Hong, director of marketing and communications. “We look forward to celebrating Indigenous culture and heritage, an important facet to Lethbridge and southern Alberta. We encourage fans to take the time to engage with volunteers at the game, to learn more about Indigenous history in Canada and what fans can do as we, as a society, work toward reconciliation.”
In another first, the Hurricanes will now include the City’s Oki video, as part of their game night entertainment. Oki, the Blackfoot word for greetings, was adopted as the City’s official greeting in 2019 to align with the International Year of Indigenous Languages.
“By recognizing the rich history and culture of Indigenous people in a way we haven’t before, we hope to spark more curiosity in some folks who perhaps haven’t thought to learn about it before,” says Nowak.
As part of Friday night’s game, the City will also be partnering with the Lethbridge Sport Council to offer this year’s Orange Shirt for Hurricanes fans.
