Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler was front and centre at last night's National Hockey League game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Edmonton Oilers.
Fiddler was part of a ceremony meant to support Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie’s efforts to support reconciliation through his Secret Path album and the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund.
Fiddler and NAN issued the following statement on last night's ceremony, which took place during intermission:
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I am honoured to participate in this historic event.
I thank the Toronto Maple Leafs, the MLSE Foundation and The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund for providing the national spotlight to raise awareness and honour Canada’s Indigenous Peoples who continue to suffer from suicide, the loss of missing and murdered women and girls, and the legacy of the Indian Residential School system.
Thanks to Gord Downie’s Secret Path project, momentum is building across this country that I hope will move us together towards the path to reconciliation.
We are encouraged that the Government of Canada has recently committed to increasing funding for child welfare services to assist our families and youth, but huge gaps remain between the quality of life of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people across this country.
This is an opportunity for everyone to work together in honour of Chanie Wenjacks life.
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Fiddler was accompanied by Fred Sasakamoose, the NHL’s first Indigenous hockey player, and Josée Lusignan, president of I Love First Peoples.
They took part in events at ice level, and hobnobbed with Wayne Gretzky.
Wayne Gretzky joins this historic evening at the game. @gcfiddler @iloveatt1 @stuartcoxe #Reconciliation #rememberchaniewenjack @gorddownie pic.twitter.com/SYUqr9RgK6
— NishnawbeAski Nation (@NANComms) November 2, 2016
