Monday, January 9, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Calgary (Mohkinstsis), AB – On Wednesday, January 11, 2023, at 12:00pm, Calgary Hitmen Hockey Club and Siksika Health Services delegates will share the details of the 2023 Every Child Matters hockey game, which will take place on February 4, 2023. Media are invited to attend Wednesday’s press conference in person, as well as a special Blackfoot performance on-ice immediately thereafter.
The press conference and performance will honour the spirit and intent of the initiative, commemorate the significance of partnerships involved, and introduce the theme and connection to Siksika Nation.
WHO: Calgary Hitmen VP Mike Moore, and Siksika Health Services CEO Dr. Tyler White
WHAT: Every Child Matters hockey game press conference and Blackfoot performance
WHERE: Scotiabank Saddledome – Ed Whalen Media Lounge, Calgary AB
WHEN: 12:00pm Wednesday, January 11, 2023
This is the third annual Every Child Matters game presented by the Calgary Hitmen Hockey Club and Siksika Health Services, this year in partnership with presenting sponsors: Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary, the Blackfoot Confederacy, First Nations Health Consortium, and Siksika Family Services.
The Every Child Matters game is part of a much larger movement of the same name, and is a recognition and commitment to action to ensure that all children know their importance, and to honour those who attended Residential Schools in Canada, their families, and communities.
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For information contact:
Cassandra Vilgrain
Communications Coordinator
(403) 921 7511
Ryan Running Rabbit
Communications, Siksika Health Services
(403) 361 0584
Today’s press conference for the upcoming Every Child Matters hockey game revealed exciting and significant details about the event, and culminated in a special ceremony to honour Calgary Hitmen VP, Mike Moore, with a traditional Blackfoot name.
Details announced:
Phyllis Webstad, creator of Orange Shirt Day, to join as a guest of honour:
“Orange Shirt Day”, recognized annually on Sept. 30, was started by Phyllis Webstad as a local, grassroots initiative, and has since grown to international recognition. The day commemorates those who attended Residential Schools, and honours its survivors and families/communities.
Phyllis Webstad will attend the March 27 Every Child Matters game as an honoured guest, and she joined us virtually to share a message for today’s event. Watch/listen here:
Fan favourite “Farley the Fox” gets a new look:
“Sinopa” translates to “fox” in Blackfoot, the traditional language of the Siksika (Blackfoot) people. Farley’s new game day jersey features this Blackfoot name, and his game day beat will be courtesy of his new hand drum, made in the traditional Blackfoot way, and featuring Calgary Hitmen symbolism.
Siksika Health Services’ CEO, Dr. Tyler White, reinforced that sports mascots often have not represented Indigenous culture or people respectfully. But with Farley’s new look, the Blackfoot language and drum are represented in a good way, and help support awareness and education about Blackfoot culture.
Game day food options to include Blackfoot cuisine, language, dancing & music:
Local Siksika Nation chef, Chris Eagle Rib, will offer Blackfoot food options, from the special event ‘test kitchen’. Attendees are encouraged to get theirs quickly – these specialty items went fast at the last Every Child Matters game!
The game will be broadcast live in the Blackfoot language by Siksika Elders, Butch Wolf Leg, Eldon Weasel Child, and Vincent Yellow Old Woman on Windspeaker Radio (CFWE), and Siksika Nation’s local radio station: 104.7FM.
Immediately following today’s press conference event, Mike Moore, Calgary Hitmen VP and Alternative Governor was honoured in a special naming and face painting ceremony, conducted by Siksika Elder, Clement Leather. Traditional Blackfoot names hold great significance as identifiers and descriptors; the name selected for Mike Moore, Saapaatsiimaitapii (“SA-PA-TSEE-MAY-TA-PI”) translates to “caring, humble, and understanding: encompassing of all these things.”
The Every Child Matters game will take place at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta at 2:00pm on March 27, 2022 between Calgary Hitmen and Swift Current Broncos. Participants of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to attend the event; tickets can be purchased on the Calgary Hitmen website. Siksika Nation members can get their tickets here.
This is the second annual Every Child Matters game presented by the Calgary Hitmen Hockey Club and Siksika Health Services, this year in partnership with the Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary, Okaki Health Intelligence, and the Blackfoot Confederacy.
The Every Child Matters game is part of a much larger movement of the same name, and is a recognition and commitment to action to ensure that all children know their importance, and to honour those who attended Residential Schools in Canada, their families, and communities.
More photos from today’s press conference:
Today’s aisokinakio’p pop-up vaccination clinic at the Genesis Centre in Calgary is off to a great start! Calgarians are welcome to come on down TODAY to the Genesis Centre, located at #10 – 7555 Falconridge Blvd NE to get their COVID vaccines, flu shots, and/or pneumonia vaccines. The clinic will be open today until 7:00pm; a second clinic will be opened at Village Square Leisure Centre next Saturday, open from 10:30am-5:30pm.
The clinic is a partnership between aisokinakio’p (an Indigenous-led COVID-19 immunization clinic created by the Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary, Siksika Health Services, and OKAKI Health Intelligence) and the City of Calgary. The clinic offers a safe and welcoming family-friendly environment, with the aim to help improve vaccination rates, especially among children. All are welcome, and translation supports are available.
Today’s clinic was started in ceremony, with Elders Ernie Poundmaker and Jackie Bromley providing prayers and leading a cleansing ceremony. Adrian Goulet offered a song to close the ceremony and seal the partnerships in a good way.
The pop-up clinic provides both Pfizer and Moderna COVID vaccines, in addition to influenza and pneumonia vaccinations. Pediatric vaccines for COVID-19 and influenza are also available. Next Saturday’s clinic at Village Square Leisure Centre will offer the same.
The pop-up clinics are offered with support from the Calgary Homeless Foundation and Alberta Health Services, with volunteers from Alberta International Medical Graduates Association (AIMGA) and ActionDignity, and include fun giveaways for the whole family. Our hope is that these clinics will be a way for the community to come together and connect in a mutual goal of strengthening the health of our communities.
Participants are asked to bring their ID, an Alberta Health Card is helpful if people have one, but it is not required.
Quotes from the Partners:
“Over the last year, aisokinakio’p’s Indigenous-led and culturally-sensitive approach has allowed us to vaccinate thousands of Calgarians, including Elders, refugees, and vulnerable community members. We are proud our innovative and welcoming approach can help protect even more Calgarians through these pop-up clinics.” ~ Shane Gauthier, CEO of the Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary
“OKAKI is committed to supporting immunization programs in Alberta. It has been a privilege to collaborate with all our aisokinakio’p partners, including the City of Calgary, to reduce barriers and improve access to vaccination for individuals of all ages through these family friendly pop-up clinics.” ~ Dr. Salim Samanani, Medical Director, OKAKI.
“As a health services authority operating within a First Nations community, we are keenly aware of the significance of immunization, and the important role it can play in saving lives and protecting our most vulnerable populations. Equitable access to quality healthcare needs to be a top priority for all our communities, and the aisokinakio’p initiative, including these pop-up clinics in Mohkinstsis [Calgary], helps to ensure this equitable access for more people.” ~ Dr. Tyler White, Naa Taoyi Piita Wo Taan, CEO, Siksika Health Services
“So many organizations have come together to lift our community up and help remove barriers to vaccination by providing these easy-to-access pop-up clinics. The clinics will improve the health and well-being of our community. Our community has a big heart. Whenever we have asked for help, so many people have answered the call, and that includes you all here today. We have found new ways to work together. I feel like we are more integrated in our community than we’ve ever been. This puts us all in a better position to improve peoples’ lives and have profound impacts on our community now, and for generations.” ~ Katie Black, General Manager Community Services, City of Calgary
This program was developed to give our Team Leaders an opportunity to incorporate some activity/exercise into their daily schedules. The benefits of exercise and fitness are enormous when it comes to mental health and we want to help these individuals create and develop a better overall well-being that would help with their busy work schedules.
Some of the benefits of boxing include:
We have teamed up with Olympus Boxing to provide an afternoon boxing class. Olympus is a well-known boxing company within the Chestermere and Calgary area, they have a great reputation and have a variety of programs available for all skill levels.