Greyhounds announce Indigenous Heritage Night
Sault Ste. Marie, ON – The Soo Greyhounds Hockey Club is proud to announce their Indigenous Heritage Night, presented by Gen7 Fuel, which will take place on Saturday September 28th, 2024, when they host the Sudbury Wolves at the GFL Memorial Gardens (7:07pm game time).
In honor of the occasion, the Greyhounds will wear special Indigenous-inspired jerseys designed by Anishinaabe and Irish Woodland artist Lucia Laford. The design is themed around the Ode’min. Ode’min translates to heart berry, which refers to the strawberry.
The jerseys will be auctioned off after the game, with proceeds benefiting Indigenous programs and initiatives at the Algoma District School Board and Huron Superior Catholic District School Board. In addition to the jerseys, limited-edition Ode’min locker plates and mini-sticks will also be up for auction as part of the fundraising campaign.
Auction Details:
Jersey Auction:
• Date: Wednesday Sept 25th at 9am to Wednesday Oct 2nd at 11:59pm
• Bidding: Online only
https://fans.winwithdash.com/auctions/soogreyhounds
• Bids: Minimum bid $100, bid increments of $25
Locker Plate Auction:
• Date: Wednesday Sept 25th at 9am to Thursday Oct 3rd at 11:59pm
• Bidding: Online only
https://fans.winwithdash.com/auctions/soogreyhounds
• Bids: Minimum bid $20, bid increments of $5
Mini-Stick Auction:
• Date: Wednesday Sept 25th at 9am to Friday Oct 4th at 11:59pm
• Bidding: Online only
https://fans.winwithdash.com/auctions/soogreyhounds
• Bids: Minimum bid $20, bid increments of $5
This is the Ode’min (Strawberry) jersey.
Design Elements:
The strawberry plays a central role in the teachings represented on the Ode’min jersey.
First, the strawberry symbolizes the heart berry, a reflection of how the Greyhounds play—with heart and passion.
Second, the strawberry teaches us about vulnerability and courage. The seeds on the outside of the strawberry remind us to lead with bravery, even when exposed and vulnerable. Thus, it embodies both courage and vulnerability.
Third, the strawberry holds deep significance for the Anishinaabe and for the people of Bawating, which is considered the heart of Turtle Island. It represents our connection to the land and our way of life.
The front of the jersey features an Indigenized reimagining of 1970s Greyhound logos. The circular motif reflects Indigenous cyclical ways of knowing. Within the circle, you’ll find the classic Greyhound, a strawberry with its leaves and flowers, a divided power circle, and its connection to four stars.
The strawberry with its leaves and flowers symbolizes growth. The circle above represents both the sun and the moon, divided to remind us of the duality in our teachings. This circle is spiritually and physically connected to the four-point stars, representing the four directions.
On the sleeves, the growth of the strawberry plant is depicted at various stages. One plant shows ripe, fully grown strawberries; another shows a young strawberry with its leaves; and the third shows blossoming flowers before the strawberries begin to grow. These plants grow beneath stars, symbolizing our connection to ancestors. Each plant’s roots stretch deep into Mother Earth, representing our bond with the land. This section connects to a star on each shoulder.
Language is vital to cultural understanding and central to our ways of being and knowing. Barbara Nolan and Isadore Toulouse, respected elders and language keepers, translated the word Greyhound into Anishinaabemowin, the language of the Anishinaabe. Greyhound translates to “E-waabnaazad Gwejkazhiwe Animosh”. Miigwetch to Barbara Nolan and Isadore Toulouse for all their work and leadership!
Including language on this jersey is a meaningful step towards recognition and reconciliation. Bawating, the original name for what is now known as Sault Ste. Marie, carries deep meanings that reflect the profound connection that the Anishinaabe have to the land and waters.
About the Artist:
Lucia Laford (Waawaaskone Qwe) is an Anishinaabe artist from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. She has learned and followed in her fathers footsteps and paints in a traditional Woodland style. Lucia also employs many other techniques in her art practice, including contemporary styles using a variety of mediums.
Lucia has had numerous solo and group exhibitions in Toronto and Sault Ste. Marie. She has live painted for the ROM during the Anishinabeg art and power exhibition. Her work also includes mural painting and running mural, traditional mitten making and drawing workshops for children and adults. Lucia has painted 4 murals for the Fort York Indigenous Festival and created the painting used for promotional material for the annual Native Child and Family Services Pow Wow.
Most recently Lucia has painted a mural for The University of Toronto First Nation House, designed an Orange shirt day logo for Toronto Metropolitan University and painted two murals for a collaboration between Vibe arts, RBC and the TTC.
Loading ...