The Prince George Cougars' Indigenous Weekend may not have gone completely as planned on ice, but the shows put on throughout the weekend by local First Nations and Indigenous groups were right on target.
With fans flocking to CN Centre Friday (4,950 attending) and Saturday (6,016 attending) to be entertained, the Cats made sure there was something for everyone.
Vendors and artists filled the concourse at CN Centre, selling everything from beadwork to paintings.
If traditional art wasn't your thing, the shows before and after the games and at each intermission were there to entertain further.
Lhedili T'enneh singer/songwriter/visual artist Kym Gouchie delivered a stirring performance of her 2024 single Atsoo Shun/Grandmother Song, accompanied by her hand-held drum, between the first and second period of Saturday's game against the Kamloops Blazers.
Performances included:
- Friday pre-game: Takla First Nation Drummers – 5:30 p.m. (front doors of CN Centre)
- Friday National anthem: Harwin Elementary and Nusdeh Yoh Elementary
- First intermission: Stellat'en vs Nadleh Whut’en hockey exhibition
- Second intermission: Nadleh and Stellat’en Traditional Performers
- Post-game (on-ice): Khast'an Drummers
- Saturday national anthem: Marissa Crouse of Lake Babine First Nation
- First intermission: Kym Gouchie of Lheidli T’enneh First Nation
- Second intermission: Northern Spirit/ Thundering Eagles/Kwanta Mountain Drummers
- Post-game (on-ice): Gitxsan All-Clans Dancers
- Post-game (concourse): Cougars team autographs
