Sagkeeng Anicinabe Nation – The Acting Grand Chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC), alongside the Leadership of Sagkeeng Anicinabe Nation, is calling for a comprehensive investigation by Hockey Manitoba following a violent and racially charged incident, which left a 15-year-old Sagkeeng boy injured, that occurred during a recent hockey game between the Sagkeeng Hawks and the La Broquerie Habs at the Sagkeeng Arena Multiplex.
The incident occurred during a game on November 8 when several intoxicated individuals from the visiting team disrupted the game by shouting profanities, which later escalated to a fight where racist slurs were said to the Sagkeeng community’s parents and spectators. “The safety and well-being of our players, staff, and the broader community are our highest priorities,” stated Sagkeeng Ogimaakaan E.J. Fontaine.
Acting Grand Chief Betsy Kennedy says youth sports are meant to foster development, respect, and enjoyment. Yet, the actions displayed by some parents and spectators from the opposing team contravened both the Habs’ own 2019 Code of Conduct and basic principles of human decency, respect, and reconciliation. “While emotions may run high in competition, resorting to violence and racism is unacceptable and has no place in any community.”
In addition to the racial slurs, both the AMC and Ogimaakaan Fontaine emphasized that Sagkeeng Anicinabe Nation maintains a strict no-alcohol policy within its borders—a policy ignored by certain visitors from the La Broquerie team.
“It is essential that anyone visiting any First Nation in Manitoba honour that First Nations’ rules and bylaws. To disregard the laws of this Nation demonstrates a profound lack of respect for the health, safety, and dignity of Sagkeeng Anicinabe citizens,” continued Acting Grand Chief Kennedy, “What occurred in Sagkeeng is the result of ongoing systemic racism that continues to go unaddressed by Hockey Manitoba.”
Moving forward, the AMC and Ogimaakaan Fontaine expect Hockey Manitoba to cooperate in establishing a respectful visitation and conduct agreement for all teams visiting First Nations communities. “Implementing such a policy would be a significant step forward on the path of reconciliation,” said Ogimaakaan Fontaine, “It would hold visitors accountable to the rules of the Nation and provide disciplinary action should those rules be broken, as was experienced earlier this month.”
The AMC and Sagkeeng Anicinabe Nation remain committed to fostering safe, welcoming environments for youth sports where players, families, and communities come together in the spirit of respect and positive competition. The AMC expects that all future interactions across youth recreational sports on any First Nation territory contribute to building understanding, mutual respect, and shared enjoyment for the love of the game.
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For more information, please contact:
Communications Team
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
Email: [email protected]
About the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
The AMC was formed in 1988 by the Chiefs in Manitoba to advocate on issues that commonly affect First Nations in Manitoba. AMC is an authorized representative of all 63 First Nations in Manitoba with a total of more than 172,000 First Nations citizens in the province, accounting for approximately 12 percent of the provincial population. AMC represents a diversity of Anishinaabe, Nehetho / Ininew, Anisininew, Denesuline, and Dakota Oyate peoples.
