The Cowichan Rugby Football Club took a step forward with reconciliation with First Nations last Saturday with a land blessing ceremony featuring the Tzinquaw Dancers from Cowichan Tribes.
Marvin Seymour, a member of Cowichan Tribes and a longtime player, coach and parent with the club helped arrange the ceremony and has agreed to work with the club to further its efforts toward Truth and Reconciliation and anti-racism.
B次元官网网址淚 love this sport,B次元官网网址� Seymour, a member of the club since 2006, told the dozens of members who gathered for the event. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 got me through some tough times. IB次元官网网址檝e always given back and I will always continue to give back.B次元官网网址�
The Tzinquaw Dancers performed the Cowichan TribesB次元官网网址� Paddle Welcome Song, Prayer Song, Victory Song and Dance, and Grand Exit Song and Dance during the ceremony at the club grounds on Herd Road.
Raymond (Rick) Peter Jr. led the ceremony. He noted early on that there are many words in the HulB次元官网网址檘B次元官网网址檜miB次元官网网址檔umB次元官网网址� language that could be used to describe what the rugby club grounds mean to the members, but he chose to simplify it to B次元官网网址渉ome.B次元官网网址�
Peter said he played rugby in high school and retains an attachment to the sport.
B次元官网网址淚 still love watching the game because of the camaraderie,B次元官网网址� he said.
Peter thanked the club for the opportunity to work together toward reconciliation.
B次元官网网址淲e hope that we are able to bring good feelings and emotions in here to each and every one of you,B次元官网网址� he said, pointing to his heart. B次元官网网址淎nd we hope and we pray that in the future we can all come together on really good terms like today, and even better terms.B次元官网网址�
CRFC president Angie Gudmundseth and senior menB次元官网网址檚 side head coach Andrew Wright commented about the work the club has done and can continue to do.
B次元官网网址淭he club has always been a healing place, and we intend on continuing to do that,B次元官网网址� Gudmundseth said.
B次元官网网址淚 want all of us to recognize our pathway to healing the wrongs in the past,B次元官网网址� Wright added.
The club has announced more work in regard to reconciliation, including new totem poles to support the club sign at the entrance to the grounds and a redesign of the original club logo.
With regular matches cancelled due to damage on the Malahat, senior games last weekend were rescheduled, and SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 ceremony was followed by an exhibition between Second Division Cowichan Piggies and Nooky Wood Old Boys. The First Division women and Second Division men will visit the Nanaimo Hornets this Saturday.
