A Siksika Nation matriarch’s contribution to her group will probably be acknowledged at an upcoming Calgary Hitmen recreation, as a part of ongoing reconciliation efforts between the WHL group and the neighboring First Nation.
It’s a part of the third annual “Each Baby Issues” recreation hosted by the Hitmen, Siksika Well being Companies, the Blackfoot Confederacy and the Aboriginal Friendship Heart of Calgary.
The lifetime of Margaret Dangerous Boy will probably be featured earlier than the puck drops. Amongst her many contributions to her individuals, she grew to become a grandmother to kids in Indian Residential Faculties.
“I wish to name her by her identify, as a result of her identify means Spirit Calling Again Lady. She has a robust identify and he or she lived as much as her identify,” stated Lucille Wright.
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“When she was of age, she and her husband, Dick Dangerous Boy, would go to the (residential) faculty and people college students who have been orphans, who had no household, would watch others go dwelling.
“As a result of she had a giant coronary heart and had her affect over the authorities — she could not take everybody, however whoever she might take, she introduced dwelling.”
Margaret lived for over 100 years and died in 2001. She helped many kids retain a few of their heritage whereas Indian Residential Faculties have been energetic within the space.
The Fact and Reconciliation Fee estimated that 150,000 indigenous kids went by the residential faculty system from the 1840s to 1996.
The variety of kids who died whereas in these faculties is unknown, however latest efforts have uncovered unmarked cemeteries on former residential faculty grounds throughout the nation.
An archive photograph of Margaret Dangerous Boy.
Glenbow Archive
Allison Pink Crow, a great-nephew, was one of many many kids who helped Margaret dangle on to his mom tongue.
“After I went to highschool, I type of misplaced that Blackfoot tongue as a result of I used to be studying the English language in day faculty,” Pink Crow stated.
“However I used to be fortunate sufficient to have her after I completed faculty, to return dwelling and to be refreshed on our language as a result of I virtually misplaced our language.
“She stored that language on our individuals. Some suppose we have misplaced it, however it’s nonetheless there due to her teachings.”
Pink Crow stated Margaret realized to be proud to be a member of the Siksika Nation and Blackfoot Confederacy.
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He stated Margaret would in all probability be honored by having a significant junior hockey recreation about her story.
“When the Calgary Flames gained in ’88-’89, she was in all probability the primary fan, imagine it or not, as a result of I keep in mind watching that recreation together with her,” Pink Crow stated.
“She jumped off her bench each time they scored. And particularly after they held that Stanley Cup within the air.
The Feb. 4 recreation may even function conventional halftime dances, Blackfoot meals, and the anticipated 10,000-strong crowd will probably be invited to take part in a lap dance.
The partnership started in 2018 with an exploration of how they may all work collectively.
In January 2019, Siksika hosted the Hitmen for a recreation on the Deerfoot Sportsplex.
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The primary Each Baby Issues recreation was performed on the Scotiabank Saddledome on February 1, 2020 – a 5-0 win for the Hitmen over the Pink Deer Rebels.
The Hitmen gamers and employees participated in smudges, Blackfoot names and a face portray ceremony as not too long ago as December 2022.
“The powwow that we had on September thirtieth (2022), to have our gamers be part of that, you haven’t any concept the impression it had on 24 gamers and continues to have,” Hitmen VP Mike Moore stated. “(When) they put on this (indigenous-themed) jersey. It means one thing.
“This isn’t a Hitmen jersey. It is an Each Baby Issues jersey and it represents one thing significant. And we’re so proud to have the ability to put on it for one recreation, however extra importantly, to have it in our group and on the planet, to inform a narrative that we might inform collectively.”
Tyler White, CEO of Siksika Well being Companies, agreed that the partnership and occasions transcend hockey.
“It represents our youth. It represents the connection we’ve with the Calgary Hitmen. And it is a reciprocal relationship,” White stated.
“As a lot as we have benefited from the connection, the Calgary Hitmen and CSEC have additionally benefited from varied teachings – whether or not it is tradition, whether or not it is ceremony, whether or not it is coaching, whether or not it is simply getting them into our group welcomed.
– With recordsdata from Cami Kepke, International Information
© 2023 International Information, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.
