Saddle Lake man welcomed in Regina on his journey to Humboldt
- Brad Bellegarde | May 22, 2018
A loud round of applause blanketed the gym of the Mâmawêyatitân Centre in Regina’s north central neighbourhood last Thursday afternoon when, Rance Cardinal, 24, stepped to the podium.
The young man originally from Saddle Lake Cree Nation embarked on a roughly 1200km walk from Sioux Lookout, ONT. to bring awareness to the world that, “life is short, life is precious,” and to, “take every moment like it’s your last.”
The walk, which Cardinal calls a “healing journey”, came to life in light of the April 6, 2018 accident that tragically took the lives of 16 Humboldt Bronco’s junior hockey team members.
“When I heard about the news before the Jets game it was a shock wave of pain through my body,” said Cardinal, who also played junior hockey for the Saddle Lake Cree Nation a few years back.
Cardinal said that he lost a close friend and teammate who he calls his brother in a car accident not that long ago.
The Humboldt accident triggered some emotions that helped motivate him to start his healing journey.
“Hockey kept me out of trouble...when I was growing up,” said Cardinal. “These boys to be gone so soon, it hits me hard, you know. They were doing everything right to get to that level and it just shows how much it hurts Canada (and) the world.”
The welcoming reception at the Mâmawêyatitân Centre had a handful of speakers that included former SJHL champion hockey star, Kirk Bear, Pheasant Rump Nakoda Nation Chief Ira McArthur and Sask. Party MLA Ken Cheveldayoff.
Cardinal was presented with a number of gifts from a star blanket to a ribbon shirt, however, the one that stood out the most to Cardinal was an eagle feather.
“That’s something I never thought I’d receive,” he said. “It’s all going to take time to sink in...that’s why I’m just speechless.”
The event was organized by George Gordon First Nation member, Brad Spence, who was inspired by seeing someone holding up a sign at a Winnipeg Jets game that read, “Humboldt Strong” and that man was Rance Cardinal.
“I knew what would become (of this man) as soon as he got to Regina...that he’d be bridging the gap,” said Spence.
Community members of all ages were in attendance and for one Treaty 4 Education Alliance student, Rance Cardinal’s journey was awe-inspiring.
“I had to stop myself a couple times to regain composure,” said Trey Anderson, 22, who is from the Pheasant Rump Nakoda Nation.
“For someone to step up like that and take a swing...he made a change with that swing.”
The Humboldt Broncos tragedy was heard all over the world and for many Indigenous youth hockey is more than just a sport.
“Moving forward with hockey it teaches you life skills in general,” said Kirk Bear, 22, University of Regina (U of R) student and cougars team member.
“My little brother (who plays) hockey was on a bus at the same time when the accident happened. It made me value how important life is.”
Bear said as a former WHL and SJHL player who has travelled that same highway, he knows what the atmosphere is like inside the bus when on the road.
“Having that memory of sitting on the bus and never having that thought cross your mind where you’re going to be in an accident,” he said. “What (Cardinal’s) doing in my opinion it’s more than just a walk, more than just a healing. It’s the process of bringing the country and the world together.”
Cardinal’s journey is in the home stretch and he hopes to reach Humboldt by May 27.