Halifax Thunderbirds honour Indigenous roots of lacrosse
Lacrosse is more than just a game for Halifax Thunderbirds captain Cody Jamieson.
“This game is medicine, it’s known as the medicine game,” said Jamieson. “It teaches you a lot about yourself and a lot about life and kind of helps you work your way through things.”
Jamieson is one of five aboriginal players on the Thunderbirds roster, which is owned by Curt Styres, an Indigenous businessman from Six Nations, a First Nation reserve near Brantford, Ont.
Styres brought the lacrosse franchise to Halifax in 2019 after he moved the team from Rochester.
The Thunderbirds are dedicated to Indigenous causes and hosting its annual Every Child Matters night, which includes a pre-game ceremony to draw attention to and honour the victims and survivors of Canada’s residential school system.
The Thunderbirds also celebrated the Indigenous history and culture of the sport with a special halftime performance.
Jamieson said it’s important to share the history of the sport and when he’s not playing the game, he spends time going into schools and teaching lacrosse to youth.
“It’s good to share our culture and share what we know and share what we have and to share this game,” said Jamieson. “This game was given to us by the creator and to share with everybody.”
“That’s what’s important about tonight, it’s reconciliation and being together and sharing knowledge and sharing stories and just being around each other.”
Lacrosse is a part of a positive way of life for Jamieson and his teammate Randy Staats, who was acquired in an offseason trade. Both are from Six Nations and represent the Iroquois national team at international lacrosse competitions.
Staats says he feels at home with his new team and is encouraged by the Thunderbirds advocacy around Indigenous issues.
“It’s always good when we have the opportunity to do that in front of people,” said Staats. “I think it’s good for the game and good for people’s knowledge around where the game comes from.”
Both players enjoy the chance to play the game and grow the sport in the Maritimes.
“The fan base here is incredible,” said Jamieson. “They are loud and knowledgeable about the game, and I think it gives us a distinct home field advantage that many teams in this league don’t have.”
For these lacrosse players, the game is more of a way of life. That’s why they both call it “the medicine game.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Ontario to ban use of cellphones in school classrooms starting in September
Ontario is introducing a suite of measures that will crack down on cellphone use and vaping in schools.
'Do not consume': Gift Chocolate recalled due to undeclared milk, soy
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a recall for a specific chocolate brand sold in Ontario and Quebec.
Kitchener family says their 10-year-old needs life-saving drug that cost $600,000
Raneem, 10, lives with a neurological condition and liver disease and needs Cholbam, a medication, for a longer and healthier life.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
Murder charge laid after man falls to death from Toronto apartment balcony
One person has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of a man who fell from a balcony following an altercation inside a Toronto apartment building.
Dozens in Italy give a fascist salute on the anniversary of Mussolini's execution
Dozens of people raised their arms in the fascist salute and shouted a fascist chant during ceremonies Sunday to honor Italian dictator Benito Mussolini on the 79th anniversary of his execution.
Zendaya tennis movie ‘Challengers’ scores at weekend box office
Zendaya and castmates Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor have been on a globetrotting press tour to get the word out about Italian director Luca Guadagnino's original film, which opened in 3,477 locations in the U.S. and Canada.
BREAKING Quebec to invest $603 million to protect the French language
Quebec will invest $603 million over five years to counter the decline of French in the province, French Language Minister Jean-Francois Roberge announced Sunday.
Nicole Kidman, who 'makes movies better,' gets AFI Life Achievement Award
Morgan Freeman spoke the words, but pretty much everyone who took the stage at the presentation of the AFI Life Achievement Award agreed: "Nicole Kidman. She makes movies better."