by George Paul MMNN Contributor

A special Heritage Day hockey game took place at Eskasoni’s Dan K. Stevens Memorial Arena on February 19, 2023 to honour Rita Joe and bring awareness to MMIW and residential schools survivors.

The Memorial Arena was packed when the Port Hawkesbury Pirates and Eskasoni Junior Eagles faceoff for the special game. During warm up the Pirates and the Eagles wore MMIW and Every Child Matters hockey jerseys.

For the first time, the entire game was live streamed in Mi’kmaq with Darren Stevens and Eskasoni Chief, Leroy Denny. In the 2010 Canada Winter Olympics, Stevens had the honour being part of the first ever Mi’kmaq broadcast during the Men’s hockey game.

A special Heritage Day puck dropping ceremony was held, with Stoney Bear singers starting the ceremony off with an honour song. This year’s honouree for Heritage Day was Mi’kmaq poet Rita Joe. The puck drop was held in her honour and also to create awareness of residential school survivors and MMIW.

Taking part in the puck drop ceremony were Eskasoni’s Jason Johnson from the Port Hawkesbury Pirates and Membertou’s Sonny Kabatay captain of the Eskasoni Junior B Eagles.

Also taking part in the puck drop was Eskasoni’s first Mi’kmaq University player Erin Denny playing for St. Mary University Women’s Hockey team along with Frances Sylliboy, Rita Joe’s daughter.

After the puck drop, emcee Dion Denny told Erin Denny to look up to her right as they reveale ...