The Game

A beautifully illustrated reimagining of the origins of hockey from an Indigenous lens.

Killer Whale and Brown Bear are arguing: Brown Bear says he can beat Killer Whale at any challenge, yet Killer Whale disagrees. When Powerful Mena overhears their bickering, he comes up with a solution: a game on the ice, played with sticks, nets, and a star for a puck. But who will win and earn the trophy?

For kids aged 4-8, The Game features:

• An introduction to Musqueam language and culture
• Beautiful watercolor artwork from a celebrated Haida artist
• Detailed backmatter and a pronunciation guide

With poetic text by gifted Indigenous storyteller Henry Charles (Ten Bears), an elder of the Musqueam First Nation, and breathtaking illustrations by Haida artist, Shoshannah Greene, The Game offers a vibrant introduction to Musqueam language and culture and inspires readers to rediscover a sport we know and love.

Henry Charles (Ten Bears, 1955-2017) was the last surviving member of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) to have lived in what is today the endowment lands adjacent to the University of British Columbia. After his parents and siblings moved to the Musqueam Reserve, Mr. Charles remained living in the wooded area with his grandparents for five years.

Shoshannah Greene is a Haida artist from British Columbia. Shoshannah is a two-time Emerging Artist Scholarship recipient and has received a Bill McLennan Masterpiece Study Program Travel grant to attend the Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois and a Microgrant to support research at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Quebec.

Peter Leech is a former professional hockey player and member of the T’it’q’et Community Village of the St’at’imc Tribal Nation who specializes in working with First Nations communities and organizations, public and private sector companies, individuals, teams, and young adults (i.e., youth) in all aspects of life. His athletic accomplishments include a stint with the East Coast and Central Hockey Leagues. He also won a gold medal in boxing at the North American Amateurs. Peter’s athletic talents extended to soccer, where he played semi-pro soccer and worked in developing professional athletes both on and off the playing field. Peter is also a very proud and loving husband and father of three.