The Montreal Alouettes returned to Kahnawake last week for a second consecutive year to raise awareness for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It was the first segment of a two-part effort by the organization. First, the team met with young people from Kahnawake at the Kahnawake Sports Complex for a flag football activity. Then on Saturday when the Als took on the Toronto Argonauts the team sported special orange jerseys during warm-up. The Alouettes did this to connect more closely with Indigenous peoples, and money will be raised for the Kahnawake community as the jerseys will be auctioned off. “If we can bring more exposure to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, that’s an important thing,” Jeshrun Antwi said. “Mark (Wightman), Danny (Maciocia) and Jason (Maas) have always said it’s about family and community and it is very important to the players.”
During the flag event, the players interacted with the youths, some with flag-football experience, some with none but all were engaged in the activity. “It was a dope experience,” Tyrice Beverette said. “Just to see the joy that we brought to those kids, to make them feel like they matter. Some of them have been neglected, and just to share a good experience through football, it was a good, good experience.”
Fans will also get to see a special Indigenous logo that players will wear on their helmets during that game. This logo is inspired by an artist from the Kahnawake community and is based on the current Alouettes logo. “I think it’s very important just to bring the awareness to their situation,” Als’ defensive back Beverette said. “ It was pushed under the rug for a long time. Most other teams don’t go that deep into it. We went the extra route putting something in their language behind the helmet. I think it’s just very special, and I think it means a lot. As a team, we’re representing something big. We represent the First Nations, and I think we’re going to do that with a lot of pride.”
The logo has been transformed into a dreamcatcher to represent all Indigenous communities in Quebec and the grooves inside the red line of the logo represent the leather of the dreamcatcher. The strap of the dreamcatcher features star-shaped designs, each with 12 points to represent the 12 players on the field. The three feathers represent the ‘kanien.’ (Mowhawks). The traditional headdress is called a gustoweh, and the Mohawks wear three feathers in this headdress. “I had a chance to speak with the artist,” Als’ running back Antwi said. “I learned how they got their name (Mowhak), and how they came to be on this land. It’s (the logo) very well done, and we are all proud to wear it.”
