By Jasmine Majoros
The 5th Annual Every Child Matters game took place on March 9, 2024, at the Scotiabank Saddledome. As with every year, it was a success, with many community members showing up to cheer on the Calgary Hitmen. It was especially a big success this year, as there were a few firsts happening with this game. The Hitmen won their first game since beginning their Every Child Matters relationship with Siksika. Another first was for Siksika Media, as it was their first time broadcasting the game live on their own through the nation’s radio station.
The U11 Siksika Buffalos skated in as flag carriers to kick off the opening ceremony, alongside the U11 Winterhawks and CanSkate as the benchwarmers and five tunnel. A special dance demonstration took place during one of the intermissions, with one performer for each category: Women’s & Men’s Traditional: Joset Melting Tallow and Calvert Jr. Wolf Child; Women’s & Men’s Fancy: Sheadon Wolf and Joey Big Tobacco; Men’s & Youth Chicken: Frank Sitting Eagle and Cota Big Snake (also a Jr. Boys World Champion); Women’s Jingle: Jenni Rose Sitting Eagle; and Grass: Josh Cardinal.
Siksika looks forward to the Hitmen game every year, as this relationship represents the support and reconciliation not only for the people of Siksika but all Indigenous communities. It’s a chance for everyone to come together to express, with great gratitude, the importance of Indigenous resilience.
