CULTURE
NIGHTS

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Marlies are proud to host our Indigenous Celebration Games on January 7 and 8.
Saturday, January 7, 2023
7:00 pm
@ Scotiabank Arena
Sunday, January 8, 2023
4:00 pm
@ Coca-Cola Coliseum
FROM THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS & TORONTO MARLIES

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.

EDUCATION IS CELEBRATION

Sports are more than just a game and in their nature bring people together over a common good. We want to foster an environment that respects all individuals of diverse sexual and gender identities to create a safe space for individuals to be their authentic selves.

GLOSSARY

Pronouns: Pronouns are used to refer to someone in a way that accurately reflects their identity. (She. Her. Hers. He. Him. His. They. Them. Theirs)

Lesbian: An identity for women who are attracted to other women.

Gay: An identity for people who are emotionally, romantically, or sexually attracted to members of their same gender.

Bisexual: An identity for people who are emotionally, romantically, or sexually attracted to more than one sex, gender or gender identity.

Transgender: A term that describes people whose gender identity is different from their sex assigned at birth.

Queer: A term that makes space for the expression of identities and orientations outside of rigid categories associated with sex, gender or attraction.

Cisgender: Refers to someone whose gender identity is the same as the sex assigned to them at birth.

2SLGBTQ+: Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, + is inclusive of people who identify as part of sexual and gender diverse communities who use additional terminologies.

PROGRESSIVE PRIDE FLAG

Red = Life

Orange = Healing

Yellow = Sunlight

Green = Nature

Blue = Serenity

Purple = Spirit

Black& Brown = Represent Queer People of Colour

White, Pink & Baby Blue = Represent Transgender and Non Binary Individuals

LEARN MORE
Limited Edition Indigenous Celebration Game Retail Collection
SHOP NOW
Indigenous Celebration Game Concession Partner Dashmaawaan Bemadzinjin
CHECK IT OUT
Indigenous Celebration Game Artist
CHECK IT OUT
Indigenous Celebration Game DJ
CHECK IT OUT

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.