​On October 2, 2024, Collège Sturgeon Heights Collegiate hosted a football game to honour Truth and Reconciliation.

The event, featuring the school's Junior Varsity Team, kicked off with a coin toss with a Residential School Survivor, and an Honour Song performed by Richelle North Star Scott, SJASD's Indigenous Education Coordinator and Knowledge Keeper.

Half-time performers included two Indigenous drummers and two dancers.

April Waters is the Administrator of Indigenous Academic and Community Support. “It's been a really beautiful coming together of community." she says, adding that “we had some great people from within the Indigenous community come out to support and help us start things off in a Good Way."

April points to barriers and access as concerns for the Indigenous population.

“In the past there's not been a lot of access for Indigenous people to be in the sports community or to participate because there's been a lot of barriers, like things like cost, right? We deal with a lot of poverty and a lot of unfortunately there's been a lot of racism over like Canada's history when it comes to Indigenous athletes. So the fact that we're able to have these celebrations together and do it in a positive way is really powerful," she says.

George Valentim is the Principal of Collège Sturgeon Heights Collegiate and says this is the first time to school has held an event like this. “This was actually the amazing idea from our coaches, they wanted to make it more than just a football game," he says.

The athletes really wanted to do it and the school purchased orange jerseys for all the players, which Principal Valentim says can been used for future reconciliation events.

“It's not just about a one-day event or wearing an orange shirt. We feel that it's something that we need to do all year long. We feel that the kids want to get involved and do more," he says.

Volunteers sold pins and conducted 50/50 sales. An Indigenous kitchen cooked up delicious food for spectators. All proceeds go to Wah-say, an Indigenous organization that supports families healing from the impact of Residential Schools.

“I'm just so proud of our kids in terms of them rallying together to do this, our football team was all in support of it. Our parent group, which is amazing that comes out and support us all the time. They were all behind this, so we really got to thank the big supporting cast behind this day," he says.

(Pictured, top to bottom): Junior Varsity Players form huddle; Indigenous dancers perform during half time; Student volunteers from Sturgeon sell Every Child Matters pins for charity.

To hear more from April Waters and Principal Valentim, and to see the sights and sounds of the day, watch the video below.

Did you know? ​The Junior Varsity Truth and Reconciliation Game was one of many observances to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Truth and Reconciliation Week in SJASD.​

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