CULTURE
NIGHTS
The Maple Leafs and Marlies acknowledge the importance to use our platform to amplify and celebrate Indigenous culture in our city and surrounding communities. In our journey towards reconciliation, we have the responsibility to support local Indigenous artists and artisans, vendors and creators.
Recognizing the deep history, we want to acknowledge, celebrate, and uplift Indigeneity from the past, present and beyond.
Tonight’s game will feature our players wearing Indigenous Celebration Game warm up jerseys designed by Indigenous artist Tyler Rushnell. The warm-up jerseys will be up for auction on Real Sports Auction with 100% of the proceeds being donated to Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre.
Artwork designed by Tyler Tabobondung Rushnell @ty_rushnell, a 23 year-old Anishinaabe artist of 6 years. T.T.R is a Beaver Clan from Wasauksing First Nations in Parry Sound and practices Woodland style. His original pieces use a distinct colourful bold twist in his Indigenous style through acrylic on canvas, digital design and more. T.T.R’s work represents sharing love, being kind, standing up for what is right, and being proud of one’s self.
A portion of proceeds will be donated to the Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre, an autonomous vibrant cultural agency led-by, and serving Toronto’s Indigenous community with deep commitment to their holistic well-being.
There will be Indigenous talent performances incorporated throughout the game intermission breaks including an Indigenous DJ, traditional communal drum performance as well as dance performers into on ice moments.
Taste the flavours of Indigenous fusion cuisine such as Bison Poutine and Smoked Cranberry Maple Sage Drumsticks. Concession partner Dashmaawaan Bemadzinjin will be featured in the concourse at section 109.
We will also be featuring Treeteas Brewing refreshing Cedar Iced Teas. Treeteas was created by Chef Paul Owl who will also be featuring his Slow Smoked Bison Dumplings in the Platinum Club, Scotia Club and the Hot Stove Saturday evening.
This game will feature our players wearing Indigenous Celebration game patches designed by Indigenous artist Tyler Rushnell. Patches are available for purchase at Coca-Cola Coliseum on January 8.
Taste the flavours of Indigenous fusion cuisine! Concession partner Dashmaawaan Bemadzinjin will be featured in a pop up space at the Smoke Poutine area.
Artwork designed by Tyler Tabobondung Rushnell @ty_rushnell, a 23 year-old Anishinaabe artist of 6 years. T.T.R is a Beaver Clan from Wasauksing First Nations in Parry Sound and practices Woodland style. His original pieces use a distinct colourful bold twist in his Indigenous style through acrylic on canvas, digital design and more. T.T.R’s work represents sharing love, being kind, standing up for what is right, and being proud of one’s self.
A portion of proceeds will be donated to the Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre, an autonomous vibrant cultural agency led-by, and serving Toronto’s Indigenous community with deep commitment to their holistic well-being.
Available for purchase at Coca-Cola Coliseum.
The Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Marlies worked with Anishinaabe artist Tyler Rushnell to create the beautiful new team logos for the first Indigenous Celebration Games.
Artist Bio: Tyler Tabobondung Rushnell (T. T. R.) is a 23 year old Anishinaabe artist of 5 years. Tyler is Beaver Clan from Wasauksing First Nations in Parry Sound Ontario, and was born in Belleville Ont. He practices Woodland Style with acrylic on canvas along with numerous other mediums, along with digital to create original pieces using his own colourful bold twist in his indigenous style. Tyler’s work represents sharing love, being kind, standing up for what is right and being proud of oneself.
“Animkiig ('Thunderbirds') are among the most powerful spiritual beings in Anishinaabe ('Ojibwe) cosmology. They maintain a special, protective relationship to Anishinaabeg (the Anishinaabe people). Although they are invisible forces, Animkiig reveal themselves through stories. The Thunderbird is also a legendary creature in certain North American Indigenous People’s History and Culture. It is considered a Supernatural being of Power and Strength.
The Ojibwe Floral represents the Beauty of The First Peoples on Turtle Island. Floral work was beaded onto a lot of significant items and keep sakes. Also the respect for nature to love and live it in its natural beauty.
The grey designs inside the Maple Leaf crest and players number on the Maple Leafs warm up sweaters are Tyler’s Anishinaabe designs.
It was important that our organizations approached this process with intentionality and were happy that the preview we provided to Indigenous community leaders and our Indigenous Advisory Council resulted in very positive feedback and pride from seeing Indigeneity represented in the Maple Leafs and Marlies brand this way.