Celebrating Indigenous Excellence in Sports

Honouring the deep-rooted traditions of sport and wellness within Indigenous communities, and their continued impact on athletic life at TMU

Located within the iconic Mattamy Athletic Centre (MAC), formerly known as Maple Leafs Gardens, Toronto Metropolitan University’s (TMU) Department of Athletics and Recreation has commissioned an Indigenous mural for the building’s main lobby. Once home to the Toronto Maple Leafs, this historic venue remains a hub for sports and community in Toronto, now home of the TMU Bold.

The mural, a 17’ x 17’ hand-painted tribute to Indigenous culture and TMU’s Indigenous athletics community, will serve as a powerful visual representation of Indigenous presence, excellence, and belonging. Designed to inspire reflection and recognition, the work of art welcomes all who enter the space, while reinforcing TMU’s ongoing commitment to reconciliation and inclusion.

Special thanks to Dan Berger, General Manager of the Mattamey Athletic Centre on behalf of Oak View Group (OVG), for their generous support in bringing this meaningful project to life. 

Join us at the Indigenous Mural Unveiling Event

Date: Tuesday, August 25, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. (Doors open at 11:30 a.m.)

Location: Mattamy Athletic Centre, 50 Carlton Street (Ground floor lobby)

Refreshments:  Light snacks and refreshments will be available

Lobby Capacity: Standing room only

Speakers: Roberta Iannacito-Provenzano, Provost and Vice-President, Academic; Monica McKay, Director, Indigenous Initiatives; Nick Asquini, Director of Athletics and Nastacia Crowe-Missens, TMU Bold Track & Field student-athlete

Attendees: All TMU Students, Staff, Faculty & Alumni are welcome to attend.

On August 25th, Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Department of Athletics and Recreation will be unveiling an Indigenous mural created by Emily Kewageshig, Anishinaabe artist and visual storyteller from Saugeen First Nation. 

As special guests, the Armstrong family will be acknowledged in honour of the late George Armstrong, former captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs and an Indigenous Algonquin-Anishinaabe hockey trailblazer whose home ice was the former Maple Leaf Gardens, an iconic, historic sports and entertainment venue, and the original home of the Leafs.

Join us in celebration of the long-standing traditions of sport and physical culture within Indigenous communities and their continued impact on athletic life at TMU.

REGISTER NOW! 

About the Artist | EMILY KEWAGESHIG

Emily Kewageshig is an Anishinaabe artist and visual storyteller from Saugeen First Nation No. 29, located on the shores of Lake Huron in southwestern Ont. From a young age, Kewageshig knew she was destined to pursue a career in the arts, and at 17, she moved to Toronto to further her education. In 2017, she graduated with honours from Sheridan’s College of Visual and Creative Arts program, where she was awarded “Best in Show” at the final graduate exhibition. She continued her studies at OCAD University, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Indigenous Visual Culture in 2020.

In 2018, Kewageshing became a mother, a special experience that deepened her connection to her spirituality and heritage. Motherhood led her to embrace the Anishinaabe worldview of the cyclical nature of life—the belief that everything is interconnected and flows with balance and harmony. Kewageshig’s work, headlined with vivid colours, bold graphic lines, and a mix of traditional and contemporary materials, reflects this interconnectedness. She focuses on the balance between culture and identity, emphasizing the importance of sustainability in a circular nature.

Beyond her success as an artist, Kewageshig serves as a role model and advocate for Indigenous youth. Through collaborations with various organizations and brands such as CBC, The Globe and Mail, Redken, Purolator, Parks Canada, as well as her work as a book illustrator, Kewageshig demonstrates the power of pursuing creativity, persevering through challenges and barriers, and embracing indigenous identity.

Over the course of her career, Kewageshig has also collaborated with several prominent sports organizations such as the Toronto Argonauts, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE), NBA Canada and the Toronto Raptors, and the Ottawa Charge of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). Through these partnerships, she has helped bring Indigenous stories and perspectives into the world of sport and now brings that same spirit to the MAC.

Celebrating Indigenous Excellence in Sport

Indigenous sport in Canada is deeply rooted in cultural traditions, spirituality, and community well-being. For generations, physical activities served as forms of medicine, ceremony and connection, fostering healing, resilience, and strength. 

Lacrosse, also known as the “Creator’s Game,” originated among Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe Peoples. The game was played to resolve conflicts, train warriors, and unite communities. Furthermore, activities such as snowshoeing and kayaking emerged from essential ways of life practiced by Indigenous Peoples and have since evolved into internationally recognized sports. 

Today, Indigenous athletes are making their mark across the globe, breaking barriers and redefining representation in both high-level and recreational sports. They’re not only excelling in their sports but also serving as role models, inspiring future Indigenous generations to pursue and excel in athletics.

Bold Roots, Lasting Legacy: 

Celebrating Indigenous-Identified Student-Athletes at TMU Through the Years

Indigenous student-athletes have long been a vital part of Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU)’s athletic legacy, demonstrating excellence, leadership, and resilience. From the the Rams to TMU Bold, Indigenous athletes have excelled in sports, helping to shape the spirit and culture of TMU athletics. This celebration honours their accomplishments and recognizes the enduring impact they have made both in U SPORTS and beyond.

2022 - 27 Connor Bowie, Eastern Woodland Métis, TMU Bold Men's Hockey

2025 - 27 Greg Dorsey, Mik'maq from the Poqtnek Reserve, TMU Bold Men’s Basketball

2024 - 26 Aislin McBurney, Métis Nations of Ontario, TMU Bold Women’s Basketball

2025 - 26 Abby Fletcher, Painted Feather Woodland Métis, TMU Bold Women’s Hockey

2025 - 26 Andrew Rose, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nations, TMU Bold Fencing

2025 - 26 Ava Assinewai, Wiikwemkoogn Unceded Territory, TMU Bold Women’s Hockey

2021- 26 Nastacia Crowe-Missens, First Nations Treaty #4 Territory, TMU Bold Women’s Track & Field

2022 - 26 Kai Edmonds, Skwah First Nations, TMU Bold Men's Hockey 

2024 - 25 Michelle Gordon, Eastern Woodland Métis, TMU Bold Women's Rugby

2023 - 25 Eden Dusome, Georgian Bay Métis, TMU Bold Women’s Hockey

2021 - 25 Adyson Wilson, Anishinaabe Nation in Treaty #3, TMU Bold Women’s Volleyball 

2022- 24 Grace McLellan, Chapleau Creek First Nations, TMU Bold Women’s Soccer

2021 - 24 Gus Cousins, Carry the Kettle Nakoda First Nation, TMU Bold Men’s Baseball 

2019 - 23 Jala Fraser, Mi'kmaq, Mètis, TMU Bold Women’s Soccer

2021 - 23 Saije Catcheway, Skownan First Nation, Waterhen Reserve #45, TMU Bold Women’s Hockey 

2021 - 22 Holden Rogers, Sheguiandah First Nation, TMU Bold Men's Hockey 

2016 - 20 Kryshanda Green, Eastern Woodlands Métis, TMU Bold (formerly The Rams) Women’s Hockey

2013 - 14 Skye Johns, Haudenosaunee (Oneida) and Ojibway (Wiikwemkoong) Nations, TMU Bold (formerly The Rams) Women’s Basketball 

2007 - 08  Mike Auksi, Anishinaabe-Estonian, TMU Bold (formerly The Rams) Men's Hockey

We welcome current and former Indigenous athletes who have contributed to varsity or club sports at Toronto Metropolitan University, representing TMU Bold or the Rams, to share their contact information using this form HERE.

By participating, you will be added to the list above and help strengthen our Indigenous sport community acknowledgement.

When Maple Leaf Gardens Was Home Ice: 

Honouring Indigenous Hockey Legend George Armstrong

George Armstrong was the longest-serving captain in the history of the Toronto Maple Leafs and one of the NHL's pioneering Indigenous players. Nicknamed “The Chief,” he led the Maple Leafs to four Stanley Cup championships during his 21-year career, all of which he won while playing at Maple Leaf Gardens, now known as the Mattamy Athletic Centre. Armstrong is the last Leafs captain to hoist the Stanley Cup, achieving the feat in 1967. His empty-net goal in Game 6 of the 1967 Stanley Cup Final secured the championship and stood as the final goal of the NHL's Original Six era.

His granddaughter, Kalley Armstrong, has continued his legacy both on and off the ice. A former captain of the Harvard Crimson women's ice hockey team, she helped lead the Crimson to a No. 2 national ranking in her senior season.

In 2019, Kalley founded Armstrong Hockey to honour her grandfather's values and create opportunities for young Indigenous hockey players, particularly uplifting Indigenous girls. Through hockey camps, mentorship, and community partnerships, Armstrong Hockey empowers Indigenous youth through sport, leadership, and connection. Kalley has worked with Indigenous communities across Ontario and continues to expand programming throughout Canada. 

Learn more at Armstrong Hockey.

For more information, please contact: Nuala Byles nuala.byles@torontomu.ca