January 17, 2025
Laura McMeekin-Clarke, Physical Wellness Worker for Sagamok, worked hard this year to cultivate a relationship with the Espanola Paper Kings hockey team. The Paper Kings are a Junior "A" ice hockey team hosted in Espanola and a member of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL).Their home games are played at the Espanola Recreational Complex, for which Sagamok has received 25 family passes to attend each game for the entire season. The Season's Passes are part of a sponsorship program developed between Sagamok and the Espanola Paper Kings. Along with the season's tickets, Sagamok's sponsorship also includes six hockey clinics, three Espanola High School Intramural Sports events, Dryland Training offered at Biidaaban, and Sagamok Anishnawbek branding displayed behind the player's bench in the Arena.
Laura says the idea behind the 25 Family Passes for home games "was to allow the community of Sagamok to go to the home games regularly with their family members for some good, wholesome time together." The additional opportunities within the Education sector offered a more one-on-one mentorship opportunity for the children of our community, with a physical wellness component as an extra benefit. Laura remarked that the programs have presented a unique opportunity for students to interact with higher-profile athletes, learn about where they come from (many are billeted locally from all over North America including Barrie, Bracebridge, Clarington, and Buffalo, New York to name a few). It also demonstrates the commitment involved in reaching their level of physicality, work ethic, perseverance, and pursuing something with passion. These ideals are shared with the kids and potentially provide them with an opportunity for self-discovery during program interactions. It is not only our youth that benefit from this personal growth; the Paper Kings players also have a chance to develop themselves: being positive role models, developing training circuits for all ages and levels of ability within elementary and secondary schools, carrying out these training plans at a live hockey clinic, accountability to the participants, public relations, and learning about the Anishinaabe culture and traditions within this intimate programming style.
January 17 marked the first of six Paper Kings Hockey Clinics. It was quite an exciting, engaging experience for the participants! The families filed into the Arena right on schedule; they were greeted by Laura at the registration desk and mingled with other registered families until the scheduled activities commenced. Some participants sported hockey bags bearing the Sagamok name and logo, which were part of the Little NHL program (Little Native Hockey League). Registration by members of the Sagamok community was required. It included these parameters: participants were between ages 5-17, possessed some hockey skill level, and had complete hockey equipment. A total of 26 people (10 family units) attended the event: 8 children and 2 youth participants, plus 16 family members who came out to support/cheer. The event included the following agenda of activities:
· Participants arrive at the Espanola Complex
· Welcome/Opening Prayer/Smudge
· Participants get on their hockey equipment
· On-Ice Clinic by the Paper Kings players for 1 hour, parents watched from stands
· Participants get changed
· Celebration Dinner held upstairs in the Complex, social time with players and families, cultural presentation by Sagamok Cultural Worker
· Pre-game Chat by the Coach to Players; participants present
· Watch the Paper Kings Warm-Up pre-game
· Sagamok Young Warriors Drum Group performance
· Game time Opening Prayer gifted by a Sagamok Elder
· National Anthem
· Espanola Paper Kings game Vs. Timmins Rocks – all registered families received a complimentary pass to watch the game
Everyone who participated in this inaugural event seemed excited to be a part of it and offered some valuable input towards upcoming clinics. With this being the first of its kind, there is always room for growth and improvement. The youth participants came off the ice having been taught drills in three separate training circuits together, had full-ice skating and edge work drills, and finished with some friendly competition in a game of 'Octopus.' The kids' faces behind the helmet cages were rosy, smiling, and enraptured. A bit sweaty too! Everyone devoured the Indian Taco supper catered by Joanne Owl and her team, a delicious fresh-made scone loaded with taco meat sauce and all the condiments imaginable to accompany. A few Paper Kings players joined families at the dinner - some choosing not to due to strict dietary practices before game time – and for most, it was their first time trying this culturally unique delicacy. They were all extremely complimentary!
Wayne Southwind, Cultural Resource Worker for Sagamok, offered diners a post-meal cultural presentation about Anishinaabe practices, including information on the four medicines included in a smudge - tobacco, sage, sweetgrass, cedar – and the unique order of the smudge ingredients along with their symbolic meanings. He offered teaching on how to properly smudge yourself and the many variations of smudging depending on the person and their current needs. He also taught how to work your way over the entire body, starting with cleansing your hands. His messages and teaching were informative and presented in a very open and inviting style so that people could learn more about Anishinaabe culture and how to live in a good way.
The Espanola Paper Kings Hockey Clinics continue with the next sessions:
· January 31
· February 14
· February 21
· March 7
· March 14.
Registration remains open on a first-come, first-served basis, and space is limited. You can contact Laura McMeekin-Clarke if you would like more information, or to register, by emailing physcialwellnessworker@sagamok.ca.
