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For the first time, there will be a broadcast of a Minnesota Wild hockey game entirely in Ojibwe.
The Friday, Nov. 28, home game against the Colorado Avalanche coincides with Native American Heritage Day, and the livestream is another step toward revitalizing Indigenous languages in the state.
“This milestone reflects our ongoing commitment to celebrating the Indigenous communities who have long been part of Minnesota’s cultural fabric,” Matt Majka, Chief Executive Officer of the Minnesota Wild, said in a press release. “We’re proud to help expand access to the game we all love and to support the preservation and vitality of the Ojibwe language for generations to come.”
Chato Ombishkebines Gonzalez, a member of the Waadookodaading Ojibwe Language Institute, joined Cathy Wurzer on Morning Edition to talk about preparing for the professional hockey broadcast and what it means to be part of the experience.
“I've been working with our elders to revitalize our language for about 20 years now, and it's exciting to see Ojibwe moving into different domains,” he said.
The game’s other announcers are Gordon Maajiigoneyaash Jourdain and James Ginoonde Buckholtz. Puck drop against the Avalanche is at 2:30 p.m. at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul.
Listen to the conversation by clicking the player button. A full transcript will be available soon.
Wild fans can stream the Ojibwe-language broadcast of Friday's game on the FanDuel Sports Network app or website. A subscription is required but there is a 7-day free trial option.
English (US) ·