Curve Lake Honoured By Lakefield Chiefs In Partnership At Last Regular-Season Game
/Curve Lake First Nation was honoured with a plaque unveiling by the Lakefield Chiefs to celebrate their partnership in their last regular-season game on Tuesday.
(from left to right) Carson Hartwick, Lakefield Chiefs assistant captain; Shawn Dunbar, Chiefs general manager; Michael Battaglia; Andy Mitchell, Selwyn mayor; Anita Locke, Lakefield Ward Councillor: Jeff Jacobs, Deputy Chief of Curve Lake First Nation; Assistant General Manager of Lakefield Chiefs Junior Hockey Club George Ripoll, Chiefs assistant general manager and Jake Hagen, Georgina Ice assistant captain. Photo courtesy of the Lakefield Chiefs.
The plaque is located in the main lobby of the Lakefield-Smith Community Centre that describes the team’s history and affiliation with the Curve Lake First Nation.
Another sign had a land acknowledgement statement of being on the treaty and traditional territory of the Michi Saagiig Anishinaabeg.
(from left to right) George Ripoll, Chiefs assistant general manager; Shawn Dunbar, Chiefs general manager; Jeff Jacobs, Deputy Chief of Curve Lake First Nation and Andy Mitchell, Selwyn mayor. Photo courtesy of the Lakefield Chiefs.
The Chiefs have been under fire in recent years for the use of Indigenous logos and names for the team’s branding. The plaque explains the team was formed in the 1960s by then-Curve Lake First Nation Chief Dalton Jacobs. The logo (also used by the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks) is a symbol of strength and perseverance.
“The community and the players that come play for us, they know our winning culture,” said George Ripoll, Chiefs assistant general manager. “I think they need to understand how we were made and come from.”
