On September 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a good reminder that sport can help build bridges, advancing reconciliation when everyone is included and has a voice at the table.
This season, the LMRL was pleased to welcome the Ice Hawks Ringette Association as a member. The Ice Hawks are Canada's first ringette club with a mandate for centering Indigenous participants in ringette, while breaking down barriers to participation. The Ice Hawks grew out of a partnership between the Chilliwack Ringette Association and the Skwá First Nation in 2018, which has grown thanks to support from Ringette Canada, ISPARC, Ringette BC, ViaSport, the LMRL, and individual supporters.
Other members of the ringette community have been proactive in advancing reconciliation together with Indigenous partners. For example, the Port Coquitlam Ridge Meadows Ringette Association has been working with the Katzie First Nation to deliver gym ringette programming for several seasons. They hit the ice for the first time last year!
How can your association work to advance reconciliation? Here are some ways you may start to undertake this work: