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The Vancouver First Nations Celebration Unity Game is designed to honour the Musqueam Nation, Squamish Nation and Tsleil-Waututh Nation—the Host Nations on whose traditional and unceded territories the city of Vancouver is located. Through ceremony, cultural protocol, and community recognition, this inaugural celebration will create space for reflection, learning, and meaningful engagement with Indigenous communities. Programming throughout the evening is developed with care and respect, centering the leadership, voices, and traditions of the three Host Nations within the game-day experience.

Pre-Game Programming

Chief’s Welcome & Welcome Song
Leadership from the three Host Nations—the Musqueam Nation, Squamish Nation and Tsleil-Waututh Nation—will deliver a Chief’s Welcome prior to puck drop. The welcome will be accompanied by The Proud Little Warriors, a youth group of traditional coast Salish drummers, grounding the evening in cultural protocol and honouring the enduring presence and stewardship of the Host Nations.

Ceremonial Puck Drop
Three Chiefs, alongside youth representatives, will participate in the ceremonial puck drop. Their joint participation reflects leadership, partnership, and shared commitment to advancing opportunity and visibility for Indigenous communities within sport.

In-Arena Programming

Featured Artist: Debra Sparrow (Musqueam Nation)
The Vancouver team commissioned Debra Sparrow, an acclaimed Musqueam weaver and cultural leader, to create this year’s First Nations Celebration Unity Game art piece. Debra is widely recognized for her work revitalizing traditional Coast Salish weaving and design. Self-taught in Salish textile practices, she brings decades of research, cultural knowledge, and lived experience to her work. Through intricate patterns and carefully woven forms, her pieces carry forward the teachings, stories, and resilience of the Musqueam people while connecting traditional artistry with contemporary spaces.

Debra’s work has been recognized nationally and internationally, with her designs featured in museums and major public spaces, including installations at Vancouver International Airport and the University of British Columbia. She also designed the logo for Canada’s men’s and women’s national hockey teams during the 2010 Winter Olympics, bringing Coast Salish design to one of the world’s largest sporting stages.

This woven blanket was chosen specifically for Vancouver’s First Nations Celebration Unity Game. The piece is dedicated to mothers, honoring the strength, guidance, and love that women bring to families and communities. Across generations, mothers play a vital role as teachers, knowledge keepers, and protectors of culture—making this dedication especially meaningful within the context of women’s sport and community celebration.

The blanket will be prominently displayed on the concourse throughout the game and auctioned online through The Realest. Auction proceeds will support I·SPARC (Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation Council) in British Columbia. I·SPARC works to advance sport, physical activity, and recreation opportunities for Indigenous communities across the province and collaborates with partners through initiatives such as the RISE program, which helps remove barriers to participation in sport and recreation for youth.

Featured Community Organizations

  • Urban Native Youth Association

    The Urban Native Youth Association (UNYA) supports Indigenous youth in Vancouver through culturally grounded programs focused on leadership development, wellness, education, housing support, and community connection. For more than three decades, UNYA has created safe and supportive spaces where Indigenous youth can access resources, build confidence, and strengthen their connection to culture and community. Guided by a philosophy rooted in both Indigenous knowledge and western approaches to care, UNYA’s work emphasizes mentorship, cultural teachings, trauma-informed support, and youth leadership. By recognizing and nurturing the unique gifts of every young person, the organization empowers Indigenous youth to thrive and shape their own futures.

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  • Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre

    The Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society (VAFCS) has been supporting Indigenous people living in Vancouver for more than 50 years. The Centre provides a wide range of culturally grounded programs and services designed to support urban Indigenous individuals, families, and communities. Through initiatives focused on health and wellness, social services, education, culture, and recreation, VAFCS helps individuals transition to and thrive within the urban community while maintaining strong connections to Indigenous identity and culture. The organization is dedicated to empowering self-reliance, opportunity, and community prosperity for Indigenous people of all ages. Representatives from the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society will be in attendance, helping highlight the important role Friendship Centres play in supporting Indigenous communities across urban Canada.

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  • Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week (VIFW)

    Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week (VIFW) is a platform dedicated to celebrating and elevating Indigenous fashion, art, and design. Founded by Coast Salish designer Joleen Mitton, VIFW creates space for Indigenous designers, artists, and models to showcase their work while highlighting the creativity, innovation, and cultural storytelling embedded in Indigenous fashion. Through runway events, artist showcases, and community programming, VIFW supports the growth of Indigenous designers while strengthening connections between culture, creativity, and contemporary design. The organization has become an important cultural platform in Vancouver, helping bring Indigenous voices and artistry to wider audiences.

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Representatives from the Musqueam Nation, Squamish Nation, and Tsleil-Waututh Nation will also be in attendance, reinforcing the collaborative and community-centered foundation of the evening.