Earlier this year, Prairie Co-op held a "Design a Jersey Contest" to design a special jersey for the Fort Knox Hockey Team's September 28 Season Opener.  The theme was "Stronger Together:  As Long as the Sun Shines, the Grass Grows, and the River Flows".  

Prairie Co-op has been on a journey to Truth and Reconciliation over the past few years.  Because of the proximity to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the game on September 28 recognizes the Indigenous Communities within the Prairie Co-op trading area. 

The jerseys designed specifically for this game will be auctioned off via a silent auction, with all of the proceeds going to retired Chief Marie-Anne Daywalker-Pelletier's Daywalker Homefire Family Centre on Okanese First Nation.  This Centre was the result of a 10-year plan that would see Okanese First Nation able to define and write their own legislation in regards to child and family services.

The family centre will house and accommodate the reintegration of children and families. 

The winning jersey design was created by Aaliyah Lavallee, a young artist from Piapot First Nation.  When presented with a jersey with her design on it, she explained the meaning behind the photograph featured on the back — a photograph of the Qu'Appelle valley that she took:

"So the story behind the backdrop of this is I was visiting my great grandmother one day, and she told me, "Go look outside.  Go look out the back of my yard", because I had never been to her house.  So what I did was I went out and realized how beautiful our land is and what we have...what I never really looked for, basically.  I just wanted to have fun and be a child but in reality I started looking at our valley; looking across and seeing how amazing and how beautiful our land is.  That's why. I really cherish this picture because I barely get to see her.  It's a good memory of her."

Thank you to Aaliyah for sharing this beautiful story, and for Imagine that Media YXE for all their hard work taking an idea on paper and making it a reality. 

Join us at the Prairie Co-op Rexentre in Fort Qu'Appelle on Saturday, September 28 at 7pm, when the Fort Knox faced off against the Pilot Butte Storm.