National Lacrosse League launches 2nd year of Every Child Matters campaign

Warren Hill, a goaltender for the National Lacrosse League's Halifax Thunderbirds, looked up from his net and saw a sea of orange at a recent game.

Fans had donnedorange Every Child Matters shirts, recognizing Indigenous children who weretaken from their homes to attend residential and boarding schools in Canada and the United States.

"It's awesome to see the different shirts that are in the crowd, being there and looking up and people have their orange on," said Hill, who is from Six Nations, Ont.

Last month the National Lacrosse League (NLL), a men's professional lacrosse league with teams in the U.S. and Canada, launched its second year of a campaign of support forEvery Child Matters. The program runs three weeks, then players will wear anEvery Child Matters decalon their helmets for the remainder for the season.

All 15 NLL teams participate.

Hill said the residential schools campaign is especially important on theirplatform, sincelacrosse has Indigenous roots.

"Being able to share that unfortunate history goes a long way," said Hill.

"Any way that we can promote it and spread awareness is good."

This campaign aims to"facilitate meaningful conversations about the atrocities perpetrated by the residential and boarding school systems, continue the journey toward reconciliation, and honour survivors and their families," saidNLLCommissioner Brett Frood in a statement.

For every shirt sold, theNLLwill donatethe proceeds to theGord Downie andChanie Wenjack Fundin Canada and the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalitionin the United States.

The NLL has alsoconducted youth programs and clinics inIndigenous communities,and sharedvideo messaging about the Every Chils Matterscampaign on TSN and ESPNand their social media channels to increase awareness.

Growing up, Hill's family didn't talk about residential schools.

"I've had grandparents in residential schools and obviously it wasn't till older that those stories start kind of coming out at that time. They just let us be kids, right," said Hill.

He recalled taking his grandfather to the theatre to see Indian Horsethinking it was a sports movie about Indigenous people and hockey. Itdeals with a young First Nations boy's abuse at residential school and how that affects him as an adult.

"I don't think he was necessarily in residential school,"said Hill.

"Ibelieve my grandma was, but I'll just say it was kind of a quiet ride home."

His grandfather spoke briefly about his friends' experiences at residential school on the car ride, but Hill knew further discussion wasn't welcome so he didn't pry.

"I remember the movie theatre being quiet and this was before more of this residential stuff came out," said Hill, referring to the discovery of unmarked burials at former residential school sitesin Canada.

Inclusive design

Justin Gilbert, who was born and raised on theSouthern Ute Reservationin southwest Colorado,designed theEvery Child Matterslogo for the NLL. Itfeatures a child wearing a ribbon shirtholding a lacrosse stick.

Gilbert said he wanted his design to be inclusive yet simple enough to be recognizable and impactful on a T-shirt.

"There's so many different tribes thatwere affected by boarding schools and residential schoolsfrom Canada down to southernUnited States," he said.

He drew a traditional lacrosse stick being carried by the child in a way that symbolizes "he's not giving it up," just liketheir Indigenous culture, described Gilbert.

Gilbert said his community has been searching the grounds of a former boardingschool and Colorado will be releasing a report of their findings in the next few months.

Support is available for anyone affected by their experience at residential schools or by the latest reports.

A national Indian Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to provide support for former students and those affected. People can access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-hour national crisis line: 1-866-925-4419.

Mental health counselling and crisis support is also available 24 hours a day, seven days a week through the Hope for Wellness hotline at 1-855-242-3310 or online atwww.hopeforwellness.ca.