By Tom Peters

Glooscap, an inspirational and cultural leader of the Mi’kmaq peoples, had great respect for the teachings of his elders “and listening to their wisdom. This can inspire you to seek out mentors, value the knowledge of those older than you and learn from their experiences.”

This inspirational comment could easily have been the spark that inspired a Cape Breton minor hockey team to launch a two-month journey to understand the true history and inter-generational effect of the Indian Residential School system in Canada.

The team that took the journey was the Cape Breton County Islanders U15C (Islanders 1) of the Cape Breton County Minor Hockey Association. The squad included 16 players, with 46 per cent identifying as Mi’kmaq, all from Eskasoni First Nation.

The Orange Jersey Project (OJP) is a national initiative led by the Orange Shirt Society and aims to educate youth on the history of residential schools, promote truth and reconciliation across Canada, support physical and mental wellness of Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth through sport, and build understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.

”This project was a full-team commitment. Each player completed the Orange Jersey Project’s educational modules and participated in experiential learning opportunities,” said co-spokespersons, Nicole Cammaert, U15 coach and co-leader of the OJP, and Ann Sylliboy, hockey parent and also a co-leader of the OJP.

“While our team led the full, two-month journey, the culminating event in Eskasoni brought together players from across the U15C division (about 48 players, close to 50 per cent Mi’kmaq). We hosted a meaningful game where our team, proudly wearing their orange jerseys, played against a combined team of players from the other two U15C Islanders’ teams. These players wore their traditional blue jerseys but joined in the smudge ceremony, Honour Song by an all-female drum group, residential school teachings from Elders and a post-game feast and celebration,” the spokespersons said.

The OJP jerseys bore the number 90, referencing the 90th Call to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which calls for inclusive national sports policies and culturally relevant programming for Indigenous peoples.

“This pilot project also aligns with and complements the important work underway by Hockey Nova Scotia through its Diversity and Inclusion Task Force, which identifies the need for initiatives like this one to help create safer more inclusive and culturally responsive environments across the sport,” the spokespersons said in a release.

The OJP made an impression on the Indigenous U15C players.

Justin Paul, an Indigenous player, said: “It made me feel happy that I’m Mi’kmaq. White kids’ grandparents never had the experience of going to residential school and all that and like my grandma, she went to the one in Shubie (Shubenacadie), she had some trouble. She lives here in Eskasoni now. It makes me so happy and proud to be a part of this team.” 

Spencer Paul, also Indigenous, said, “It felt good to do the Orange Jersey Project because my grandma went to residential school and I bet she would be proud because I’m wearing an orange jersey and my whole team is too.” 

The two players do not have the same grandmother, just share the same last name. 

The program also left a mark on the non-Indigenous players.

“Oban (a team member) and I learned how to make tobacco ties to give the Elders to say thank you or Wela’lin,” said Cooper Barry. “While we were making them we thought about what we learned in the Orange Jersey Project, like when Elders were kids and had to go to residential school and how hard that was and now they’re helping us to learn and how hard it must be to tell those stories.” 

Rory Mombourquette, a non-Indigenous player, said: “It’s good that we’re all doing this. It’s good to learn about what happened in the past so that everyone is educated on what happened with residential schools and knows a lot about how it affects people. I think learning can really help cut down on racism.”

Cammaert added that “due to geographic distance, we did not visit a former residential school site but we ensured our players heard first-hand from survivors and their families.”