Huge Indigenous hockey tournament combines celebration of the game and culture

What might seem like a normal March break week for many, will for some be an immersion in one of the largest hockey tournaments in the country.

From March 10-14, an estimated 10,000 hockey players and families from around Ontario will descend on Markham, located northeast of Toronto, as the Little Native Hockey League is celebrating and hosting its 50th edition of its tournament.

This event showcases the talent of Indigenous youth, and celebrates the connection of sport, history and identity. It is rooted in Indigenous practices, amplifies important beliefs and celebrates hockey with inclusiveness and generosity.

This year's theme is "Honouring the Water" and seeks to teach participants and the wider community about the water crisis in different Indigenous regions in Turtle Island. Turtle Islandis how the lands now known as North America are referred to by Indigenous people according to their origin stories. A documentary film, Boil Alert, about the water crisis will be screened twice on Sunday as well. 

The tournament started in 1971 with 17 teams. In 2024, LNHL is expecting 245 teams with at least 38 teams being for girls only while dozens of others are mixed gender. There are hundreds of volunteers for the event and more than 4,000 certified bench staff. 

Over the course of four days, 574 games will be in arenas across Markham with the tournament finals at the Angus Glen Community Centre. It's a huge economic boost as local hotel, restaurants and other businesses have been preparing for the event, helped by Indigenous Tourism Ontario.

On Sunday, the Markham Civic Centre will host music, hoop dancing, drumming and other artists, and there will be a sunrise ceremony on Sunday and a sacred fire will be lit and remain