The Humber Hawks women’s softball team lost both games against the Sheridan Bruins in a doubleheader on Oct. 2 at Connorvale Park. But it wasn't a loss for the Hawks as they recognized National Truth and Reconciliation Day and paid tribute to Indigenous communities.
“I chose to play for Grassy Narrows First Nations,” pitcher Shane Hansen said.
Hansen said her choice is based on her own family, “coming from an Indigenous background and unfortunately lost a lot of history, but my great-grandpa was First Nations, so it was really special to me.”
All the players and team members wore orange shirts. They also went out of their way to flare it up a bit more, with braided hair and orange extensions and orange makeup.
Every player was tasked with researching a residential school and representing the children forced to go there in the game they played.
“It brought more awareness and allowed people to open their eyes and see ‘wow, a lot more people were affected than I realized’,” she said
Hansen said even a softball game can help spread awareness.
Children do learn about Indigenous communities in school, but as Hansen explained, exposure outside the classroom through activities like sports can help encourage deeper understanding.
“It’s saying that outside of school and seeing it in a different environment, I feel like it affects people a little deeper,” Hansen said.
Hansen said, although the games didn’t end in the Hawks’ favour, the team never stopped fighting.
"I think it relates back to truth and reconciliation, you never stop fighting, the game didn’t go our way, but we get back up and keep on fighting,” she said.
The Hawks came up short in Game 1, losing 9-6 to Sheridan. Hansen struck out five times in that game.
Marlee Greer, a second-year student studying biomedical science and playing left field, said she was playing for the Mount Elgin residential school, which is now part of The Chippewas of the Thames First Nation in Muncey, southwest of London, Ont.
Third-year pitcher Angelina Bomberry urged the girls to do their research about residential schools, the last of which closed in 1977 in Canada.
“She asked us to research residential schools and Indigenous communities across Turtle Island, and then we all learned about the history and impact,” Greer said.
“It felt really meaningful, being a part of something bigger than just a game,” she said.
National Truth and Reconciliation Day only comes once a year, but it should be an everyday thing. When a team of softball girls from a college come up with this amazing way to recognize Indigenous communities and history, it leads to asking what about the big leagues?
“I think it’s something that should be incorporated into pro sports because it can spread so much awareness and it’s not hard to do,” Greer said.
When people start to take initiative, it catches on, she said.
“It was really special because it’s easy to get caught up in competition, but I feel like it was a reminder that there’s stories and histories beyond the field,” Greer said.
Throughout the game, the Hawks didn’t stop the fight. They played through the entirety of both games.
“I was proud that our team could recognize that (National Truth and Reconciliation) and keep the energy up and show our support in our own way,” Greer said.
The Hawks ended up in a close second game with a 5-4 loss to the Bruins. Nevertheless, the team walked away with two losses in softball but says they came out of it proud of the work they accomplished off the diamond and bats.
