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Prince George Cougars make special pledge to Lheidli T’enneh

The team will also be hosting the 2nd Annual Indigenous Hockey Night at CN Centre on January 20
Hanna Petersen
Hanna Petersen
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Prince George Cougars getting ready to make the announcement. X

The Prince George Cougars have given the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation a ‘Respectful Acknowledgement’ pledge.

The pledge was given by director of business operations and goaltending coach Taylor Dakers.

In thanks for the pledge of ‘Respectful Acknowledgement’ Lheidli T’enneh First Nations Chief Dolleen Logan presented Dakers with a Respectful Acknowledgement plaque to be displayed in the Cougars office at CN Centre.

“Our nation has enjoyed an incredible relationship with the PG Cougars since 2021. Soon after the discovery of the 215 unmarked graves at the site of the former Kamloops Residential School, the Cougars called us to ask how to respectfully acknowledge the families and communities of those who died at the school,” explained Logan.

“This started a journey on the Road to Reconciliation for both partners that has reached today’s pledge of Respectful Acknowledgement. In recent years our Lheidli Elder Clifford Quaw has met with the team to share his experiences as a survivor of the Lejac Residential School.”

She said the team and its players travelled to the site of the former Lejac Residential School last year where Elder Clifford shared more stories of his time there as a student.

“The Cougars have clearly demonstrated their commitment to partnership and to better understand the ‘Truth’ about ‘Truth and Reconciliation’,” she said.

“Their actions today and in hosting the 2nd Annual Indigenous Hockey Night at CN Centre on January 20 leave no doubt that this Western Hockey League club is serious about their relationship with our nation and all Indigenous hockey fans in our home community of Prince George and throughout Northern BC and we appreciate that.”

The team also unveiled new special jerseys for Indigenous Hockey Night designed by Lheidli T'enneh artist and musician Kym Gouchie. 

Dakers said that he was on honoured on behalf of the players, coaches and staff to make this pledge

“Our hockey club live, works and plays its games in CN Centre which is located on the unceded territory of the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation. And, because the Lheidli T’enneh have welcomed visitors to their ancestral lands for thousands of years, other Indigenous communities and hockey fans feel welcome when they attend our games,” he said.

“I echo Chief Logan’s remarks about the special partnership our hockey club and her nation have built these past few years. Our club believes it is our responsibility to help our players become better at hockey but also, to learn about the history of our Host First Nation, the Lheidli T’enneh and to become better citizens. We believe our pledge of Respectful Acknowledgement will help us in this pursuit.”