24 Sep 2024 4 min read Weekly Wrapped

Truth, Reconciliation, and Football: How the CFL is Championing Indigenous Voices

Introduction

In honor of Truth and Reconciliation Week 2024, this edition of the Purposeful Partnerships Report explores how sports are being used as a powerful tool to foster conversations around truth and reconciliation. Tying into this we will also examine how the Canadian Football League (CFL) is supporting this movement through various initiatives across the league.

To fully grasp the importance of Truth and Reconciliation Week in Canada, we must first understand its significance.

Truth and Reconciliation Week 2024

Truth and Reconciliation Week is a time to honor the history, cultures, and languages of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples, while acknowledging the profound and lasting impact of the residential school system on Survivors, their families, and communities. The week is dedicated to starting and sustaining meaningful conversations, coupled with a transformative period of learning and reflection, as Canadians collectively work toward reconciliation. It also celebrates the strength and resilience of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.

Building on the mission of Truth and Reconciliation Week, sports and physical activity have a unique ability to connect people. They transcend boundaries of race, background, and beliefs, uniting individuals through a shared passion. Arenas, fields, and playgrounds become spaces where differences are set aside, and a sense of common purpose prevails.

Recognizing this, the Government of Canada has responded to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action 87 to 91, which focuses on sport and its role in the reconciliation process. You can read more about these Calls to Action here.

Understanding these efforts is key to seeing how the CFL has integrated Truth and Reconciliation into its league-wide initiatives.

Canadian Football League and Truth and Reconciliation

Like many of you, I was immediately drawn to the beautifully redesigned CFL team logos that flooded my timeline yesterday. The intricate details and powerful messaging behind these logos piqued my interest, prompting me to dig deeper into their significance. While I’ll be showcasing these logos later in the article, they serve as a striking visual representation of the CFL’s commitment to amplifying the message of Truth and Reconciliation. This week, the league has carefully crafted a thoughtful and intentional series of initiatives that will highlight Truth and Reconciliation in various ways across teams and communities. Below, I’ll explore how this important message will be brought to life throughout the league.

The Canadian Football League (CFL) will join Canadians in recognizing the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The league has collaborated with Indigenous communities to plan Orange Shirt Day initiatives and game day commemorations. These efforts aim to help Canadians better understand the nation's tragic history and foster a path forward rooted in awareness, education, and action.

These initiatives support several Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, including:

Orange and White Practice Jerseys

All players will wear orange and white pre-game jerseys during Week 17’s Truth and Reconciliation commemorations. Teams will either raffle or auction the jerseys, with proceeds supporting local Indigenous communities, or donate them to community members and organizations.

Commemorations

CFL clubs will engage in various efforts to recognize and celebrate local Indigenous communities, including:

Performances of O Canada and starting lineup announcements in Indigenous languages
Honoring Indigenous leaders, community members, youth, and residential school survivors during games
Indigenous artists and musicians performing at games and events
Celebrations of Indigenous sport, culture, and art
Commemorative giveaways

Education and Awareness

Indigenous leaders and community members will educate CFL teams on Truth and Reconciliation, answering questions and sharing resources to promote ongoing learning.

Content Creation

The league and its teams will produce content to highlight Indigenous culture and community members. Social media will amplify these stories, which will include:

Celebrations of the ties between football and Indigenous communities
Spotlights on Indigenous artists and athletes
Guest features on the "Diversity is Strength" Conversation Series

Commemorative Team Logos

During Week 17 games, CFL officials and all nine teams will proudly wear Indigenous-designed logos to honor the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The Calgary Stampeders, who have a bye in Week 17, showcased their commemorative logo during Week 15 against Montreal. These team logos, created by local Indigenous artists, symbolize the deep connection between football and Indigenous communities and reaffirm the CFL’s dedication to acknowledging the past while focusing on a future built on education and action.

A portion of proceeds from merchandise featuring the logos will be donated to support local Indigenous groups, organizations, or programming. These logos will be visible on players’ helmets, in-stadium displays, and broadcasts across CTV, TSN, RDS, CFL+, and CBS Sports Network.

Individual Team Programs

In addition to league-wide initiatives, individual CFL teams are also hosting their own programs tailored to their fan bases, regions, and local Indigenous communities. These thoughtful activations highlight the CFL's dedication to making Truth and Reconciliation Week a deeply meaningful experience across Canada. Below are links to more information on some of the specific team programs.

Conclusion

The CFL has developed a deeply thoughtful program to support Indigenous communities during Truth and Reconciliation Week. This campaign goes beyond typical social media posts, reflecting a genuine, intentional effort to honor, recognize, and celebrate the values of Truth and Reconciliation.

From fundraising through merchandise sales to highlighting Indigenous artists and athletes, the CFL’s campaign is built on intention and care. As a cornerstone of Canadian sports culture, the CFL has always been embedded in the lives of Canadians, but this initiative showcases its deeper understanding of the diverse communities it serves.

Throughout this week, as Canada celebrates, remembers, and learns, this CFL program sets a powerful example of how sports leagues can actively engage with social issues and use their platforms to amplify important messages.

I’m eager to see the lasting impact of these initiatives and how they will continue to evolve in the future.