Photo cred: Mark Limin
Local artist Angela Wiggins is shining a spotlight on Indigenous culture at the 2024-2025 World Junior Hockey Championship in Ottawa.
Wiggins, a self-taught Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) artist who grew up in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, was chosen by Hockey Canada to design 25 hand-painted paddles that will serve as Player of the Game awards and gifts for dignitaries during the tournament in Ottawa.
Her designs include Turtle Island, Bear, and Loon, representing themes like strength, tranquility, and connection to the land. Each paddle is crafted with vibrant colors and traditional smudging feathers, ceremonially prepared to honor Indigenous spirituality.
Wiggins, recognized by the Canadian Council for the Arts, even presented a paddle to the Player of the Game during the Latvia-USA matchup on December 28, 2024.
Hockey Canada’s initiative also features other Indigenous contributions, including 350 beaded waist bags for volunteers. Among those volunteers are Brittany Dale, from Tyendinaga, Ontario, and Vanessa Beaudoin, of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte. And a unique Canadian jersey was designed by Tyendinaga artist Kory Parking.
This effort celebrates Indigenous talent and connects Canada’s diverse communities through sport and culture.
Written by Emily Chatwood
