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
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.