Climate Pledge Arena Saturday Honored Indigenous Populations
Though the Seattle Kraken haven't had much to celebrate this month, perspective was provided by Saturday's Indigenous People's Night. Proud cultures were recognized, whose achievement over hardship exponentially exceeds any by sports teams.
Morgen Schuler's photos vividly display the scenes from a special evening at Climate Pledge Arena.
The electric "Tentacle" and arena signage were adorned in colors representing Indigenous People's Night.
Kraken goalie Joey Daccord's theme night sweater, auctioned for charity (1 of 2).Special sweaters, like goalie Joey Daccord's shown here. were autographed and later auctioned by the Kraken's One Roof Foundation. Proceeds benefit Lushootseed Research and the Na'ah Illahee Fund, two charities focused on preserving Indigenous culture, traditions and language.
Kraken goalie Joey Daccord's theme night sweater, auctioned for charity (2 of 2).The sweaters were designed by local artist & Snoqualmie Tribe member Bethany Fackrell, Her comments, from eighthgeneration.com: "I use traditional Salish patterns in a contemporary way to bring my culture to light. My art pieces offer this by spreading teachings, stories, and real experiences.
"Being a Snoqualmie Tribal member is an overall way of life for me. For me, it is all about offering my hands whenever, wherever, or however I can. I raise my hands in thanks to the ones before us and our elders who paved the path for the generations to come."
Editor's Note: Due to an NHL directive, teams are no longer allowed to wear themed sweaters during warm-ups. We wrote about that (misguided) policy in detail here.
John Halliday, who is a member of the Muckleshoot tribe, performed the National Anthem. He was joined by veteran Jesse McDaniel and flutist Doug Yates, both of whom are members of the Muckleshoot tribe.
Trolls originated in Nordic folklore, but this one (Buoy) was seen celebrating Indigenous People's Night at Climate Pledge Arena, complete with theme night sweater and drum.
Dr. Ada McDaniel, at right in orange Kraken sweater.Dr. Ada McDaniel, who at age 63 earned an Educational Leadership Doctoral (Ed.D.) degree at UW Tacoma, was the One Roof Foundation's "Hero of the Deep."
Dr. Ada McDaniel, "Hero of the Deep," waves to an applauding crowd at Climate Pledge Arena.From the UW Tacoma website: "Ada McDaniel is the ninth of 10 children born to her Indigenous mother Pauline Lozier of the Muckleshoot Tribe.
"McDaniel’s mother and grandmother survived the brutal boarding school era in the United States. For nearly 100 years, Native youth were removed from their families and sent to distant boarding schools with the goal of forced assimilation."
(The orange color of the theme night sweaters are also in recognition of the odious boarding schools.)
"McDaniel experienced hardship at a young age. 'I had 10 siblings and they started dying when I was four years old,' she said. 'That emotionally set me back.' McDaniel’s father grew up during the Jim Crow era. He quit school in the eighth grade to help support his family.
"McDaniel served as the Emergency Management Director for the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe for 13 years and is now the Tribe’s Unsheltered Relatives Outreach director."
The Muckleshoot Canoe Singers performed twice: before the game for fans entering the arena, and at center ice during the game's first intermission.
This is not the referee trying to appropriate an Indigenous People's dance. This is the referee trying not to get hit by the puck or players speeding by.
Hockey players have their own tribal customs. This one is known as the post-goal group hug.
In hockey, rivals don't always settle their disagreements peacefully.