On Saturday, January the 9th, the Winnipeg Wesmen along with of the Aboriginal Student Centre will be celebrating the first Indigenous Day to coincide with their basketball game against the Brandon University Bobcats.
The celebration will include a traditional blessing and smudge from an Elder in residence at the University, feature traditional drumming and honour Indigenous culture with music and dancing throughout the game.
Maureen Twovoice, the representative from the Aboriginal Student Council and co-organizer of the event said "As a member of the Aboriginal Student Council- Health & Wellness Coordinator I am excited to create a healthy relationship with the Athletic Department and promote Indigenous cultures into the Wesmen basketball games. It is a great way to get students and the community involved"
Dave Crook, the Interim Athletic Director had this to say "As part of the University of Winnipeg, we wish to welcome and embrace the Indigenous members of the University Family and the Indigenous community as a whole. We hope that this event is the start of something special and jointly between the ASC and ourselves find other ways to grow our relationship"
The women's game starts at 2 pm and the men's Game at 4 pm.
Source: http://www.wesmen.ca/genrel/First__Indigenous_Day