The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30 is a day of profound grief as the country remembers the violence the Canadian government and churches inflicted on Indigenous children in the residential school systems they ran. But it is also a day that celebrates Indigenous heritage. This celebratory aspect is exactly what Redbirds Hockey forward Mikisiw Awashish, a member of the Innu community in Mashteuiatsh, Quebec, wanted to emphasize and share with his teammates.
Awashish had the idea to plan a match, called the Legacy Game, to commemorate reconciliation and his heritage through hockey. The Redbirds played the contest in Mashteuiatsh, some 450 kilometres north of Montreal, against the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR) Patriotes. The game was an exciting reunion for the two sides, who met in the Ontario University Athletics East quarter-finals last February. While the Redbirds fell to UQTR 5-2 in the Legacy Game, the match was tied going into the third period, making it a suspenseful and exciting watch for those in attendance.
In an interview with The Tribune, Awashish spoke about the spark behind his vision for the Legacy Game.
“[I first had the idea] three years ago. It was exactly on September 30th,” he explained. “I thought at the time [this day] was missing something.”
Awashish was inspired by Redbirds hockey legend Francis Verreault-Paul, who is also from Mashteuiatsh. Verrault-Paul, who was inducted into the McGill Athletics Hall of Fame in 2023, deepens the connection between McGill’s Legacy Game and the Mashteuiatsh community, as the match foregrounds the accomplishments of another local legend with ties to the university.
Hockey has always been an integral part of Awashish’s life. He spoke to how the game plays a central role in Indigenous communities like Mashteuiatsh.
“In my hometown, especially in northern Quebec [and] in Indigenous communities outside of Montreal, hockey is the main sport,” he said.“My dad played hockey, all my friends played hockey, […] we had Indigenous tournaments that we [went] to, and the rink was [always] packed.”
While the Redbirds travelled to Mashteuiatsh to play the Legacy Game, they also went to experience Indigenous culture and meet with Awashish’s local community. The team participated in collaborative learning experiences organized by Awashish, from hosting a youth hockey event to sharing a meal that included beaver, geese, and moose—a first-time experience for many of Awashish’s teammates.
“It was very well welcomed by them, which was humbling, [and] they have my trust now because I opened my culture to them and they enjoyed it,” he reflected.
The visit was packed with memorable events, but one moment stood out as the most meaningful to Awashish: On the morning of game day, both UQTR and McGill players met survivors of Canada’s residential school system.
“There was a ceremony,” Awashish explained. “Three survivors of residential schools were there. [….] They [recited] passages in the Innu language, and we were all there gathering behind them in support. One of them was really saddened by [the] memories. [….] Even though [my teammates] could not understand what [the speakers] were saying, they could feel it. To be able to share that with them was special.”
Ahead of a long year of hockey and travel, the time the Redbirds spent in Mashteuiatsh provided moments of gratitude and reflection that went far beyond the rink. Awashish shared not only his culture with his teammates, but also a life-changing experience that brought the team even closer.
“They will use that experience […] for the rest of their life. [This] was also the goal of the trip,” Awashish reflected.
With the Legacy Game being the Redbirds’ final pre-season match, the regular hockey season now begins at McGill. The Redbirds will play their home opener on Oct. 8 against crosstown rivals, the Concordia University Stingers, at McConnell Arena.
