SCEPTRES VS. GOLDENEYES
SUNDAY, MARCH 29
1:00 PM ET
The Toronto Sceptres Indigenous Peoples Celebration Unity Game is designed to honor Indigenous Peoples, cultures, and histories, and to recognize the ongoing contributions of Indigenous artists, leaders, athletes, and community-builders within hockey and across sport. Through ceremony, cultural performance, and in-arena recognition, the game creates space for reflection, learning, and meaningful engagement with Indigenous communities. Programming throughout the night is developed with care and respect, centering Indigenous voices and traditions within the game-day experience.
Toronto’s Indigenous Peoples Celebration Unity Game will feature programming integrated throughout the full game experience, including:
- Ceremonial moments honoring Indigenous Peoples and traditional territories
- Live cultural performances centered on Indigenous traditions and expression
- Community organization recognition and engagement
- In-game acknowledgements spotlighting Indigenous impact within hockey and community
Pre-Game Programming
Land Acknowledgement
A land acknowledgement will be delivered through a recorded video message by Chief Margaret Sault, recognizing the traditional territories and the enduring presence of Indigenous Peoples across the region.
Opening Ceremony Cultural Performance
The opening ceremony will feature a drum circle performance led by Nimkii Osawamick and guests, presented on the ice as a central moment of the pre-game ceremony.
Drumming holds deep cultural significance within many Indigenous communities and is often described as the heartbeat of Mother Earth, representing life, unity, and the circle of life. Anishinaabemowin drum circles serve as a connection to the Creator and community through healing, spirituality, and physical wellness.
Cultural Dance Presentation
A Jingle Dress/Woodland dancer will also participate in the opening ceremony presentation. The Jingle Dress dance is widely recognized as a healing dance within Anishinaabe culture, representing strength, resilience, and community healing. The inclusion of both the Jingle Dress and Woodland dance traditions highlights the importance of cultural expression and ceremony within Indigenous communities.
Unity Artist Activation
Featured Artist: Nimkii Osawamick (Odawa/Potawatomi, Wiikwemkoongsing Unceded Territory)
The Toronto team commissioned Nimkii Osawamick, an Odawa and Potawatomi artist from Wiikwemkoongsing Unceded Territory and member of the Bear Clan, to create this year’s Indigenous Peoples Celebration Unity Game art piece.
A singer with over 20 years of experience, Nimkii shares cultural teachings through song, ceremony, and artistic expression. His work reflects a deep commitment to community, the transmission of Indigenous knowledge, and the strengthening of cultural identity through both music and art.
This one-of-one handcrafted drum was created specifically for Toronto’s Indigenous Peoples Celebration Unity Game. Representing the heartbeat of Mother Earth, the piece is grounded in the four elements—fire, water, earth, and air—and reflects balance, connection, and life itself.
Nimkii was inspired by the matriarchs in his life and by his daughter’s response to seeing women represented on the ice—an experience that reshaped her understanding of what is possible in sport. The drum reflects the importance of representation, visibility, and belonging, while honouring Indigenous teachings and the growing impact of women’s hockey.
The drum will be prominently displayed on the concourse throughout the game and auctioned online through The Realest. Auction proceeds will support the Little Native Hockey League, which provides opportunities for Indigenous youth to participate in hockey while fostering community, cultural pride, and connection through sport.
