Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Welcomes Stanley Cup to Indigenous Community
Sioux Valley Dakota Nation has joined other Indigenous communities in Canada in hosting the Stanley Cup.
On Wednesday, Sioux Valley member and NHL championship winner Zach Whitecloud proudly presented the cup in his home community. Hundreds of people, some of whom travelled great distances, gathered to catch a glimpse of the silver trophy.
Lauren McNabb, who drove from Calgary to attend the event, expressed her excitement and support for Indigenous athletes. She told Global News, “It’s important to support all of our First Nations athletes, and I’m just really excited that another Dakota player is making history. So yeah, just really excited to celebrate these moments.”
Tim Whitecloud, Zach’s dad and a Sioux Valley council member, described the significance of bringing the cup home. He addressed the crowd at the celebration, stating, “To be able to come home and at such an enormous occasion, for him to come home with the Stanley Cup and present it to you people who have supported him 100 per cent.”
Zach Whitecloud, who spent much of his childhood in the Western Manitoba reserve, was signed as a free agent by the Las Vegas Golden Knights in 2018. He achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the second defenseman in 22 years and 11th in the NHL modern era to score the game-winning goal in the opening game of the Stanley Cup Final.
Sioux Valley Chief Jennifer Bone expressed the immense community pride during the Stanley Cup Finals. Homes and public places were adorned with memorabilia like t-shirts and posters. The first nation also held a watch party for the championship game, which attracted a large turnout.
Chief Bone emphasized the pride they felt while witnessing Zach Whitecloud’s career. She said, “He’s been a great inspiration to not only our youth but all Indigenous people, right? And not only with the Stanley Cup win, even before that. Just having him playing in the NHL was something great to see for our young people.”
“(It’s) really setting an example that anything is possible and that if you work hard, you can achieve anything, right?” said Carlin Mckay, a Sioux Valley member who attended the celebration.
Proud attendees expressed their excitement and pride, emphasizing the significance of the event. The Stanley Cup began its championship tour in Amos, Quebec, the hometown of Golden Knights right wing Nic Roy, and will continue throughout the coming month.
— with files from Marney Blunt
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