Nova Scotia, Mi'kmaq 'bury the hatchet' with on-ice round dance during hockey game

Mi'kmaq leaders faced off against Nova Scotia government officialsto mark the province's Heritage Dayin two hockey games over the weekend in Truro.

But the show-stopper came between the second and third periods of Monday's game, when players from both teams joined at centre ice for a traditional round dance.

The games werepart of the first Mi'kmaqHeritage Hockey Classic 2017 Bury the Hatchet.

• Mi'kmaq chiefs, council to square off against N.S. politicians on the ice

"Both games had the chief and council members versus the Nova Scotia provincial government staff and employees," said Millbrook First Nation Chief Bob Gloade.

"It was a really good experience for everyone involved."

Gloade, who laced up his skates for the game, said the Mi'kmaq team won 9-2 on Monday. They also won Saturday, 9-5.

Before the start of the third period on Monday, both teams joined for a traditional round dance on the ice.

'Coming together and moving forward'

House of Commons Speaker Geoff Regan, the member of Parliament for Halifax West, also hit the ice for the first Mi'kmaq heritage classic.

"There's a dark history that Canada has with residential schools and so much else, but this was not about forgetting that, but remembering that," Regan said.

"Also coming together and moving forward into the future."

While the Nova Scotia government team lost the friendly game, people who played said it was fun for everyone involved.

The game was organized as a way for Indigenous leaders and government officials to celebrate Mi'kmaq culture.

After the success of the games, there are plans to make the match a yearly tradition.