Zach Whitecloud is the first Dakota from the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation to join the NHL

Zach Whitecloud has become the first Indigenous hockey player from Sioux Valley Dakota Nation to join the ranks of the National Hockey League’s (NHL’s) Vegas Golden Knights.

Whitecloud was born November 28, 1996 in Brandon, Manitoba, and was raised on Sioux Valley Dakota Nation. He went to high school in Brandon. He played with the Virden Oil Kings in the Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League and junior hockey with the Brandon Wheat Kings in the Western Hockey League.

He signed his first contract with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2018 and another six-year contract in 2021.

Whitecloud was instrumental for putting the Vegas Golden Knights ahead of the Edmonton Oilers early in the third period of the May 3rd game in Round 2 of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Whitecloud took a slap shot in the early moments of the third period which was redirected and put his team ahead. The Golden Knights went on to win the first game against the Oilers 6-4 on May 3rd. Actually, Whitecloud played his first NHL game against the “Edmonton Oilers on April 5, 2018”.

More information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zach_Whitecloud

The Winnipeg administrative offices of Circles for Reconciliation are on Treaty 1 territory – the traditional land of the Ininiw (Cree), Anishinábé (Ojibwé), Anisininew (Ojibwé Cree), Dakota and Dene people, as well as the Birthplace of the Métis Nation and the Heart of the Métis Homeland. Circles for Reconciliation is an Indigenous-led non-profit corporation, with at least 51 % of our Board of Directors being peoples of First Nation, Inuit, or Métis status. Circles for Reconciliation is a registered charity, registration no. 748256930 RR 0001.
Circles for Reconciliation is grateful for all who have joined the journey to reconciliation on the traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples. We acknowledge that Tkaronto is covered by Treaty 13 signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit, and the Williams Treaties signed with multiple Mississaugas and Chippewa Bands. As of October 31, 2023, we sadly had to lay off the Toronto Team due to severe lack of funding. Our Winnipeg team will continue to address the waiting registrants or hosts in this area.
Artwork by Eugene Demas. Eugene was well featured in Calgary's Bow Museum and known for his use of pencil crayons.

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The Seven Sacred Teachings of the Anishinaabe

These teachings form part of our openings for all Circles.

Circles for Reconciliation Inc. recognizes that all First Nations, Métis and Inuit people have their own cultural teachings that encompass the morals and values of conduct.On page 30 of “Honouring the Truth, Reconciling for the Future.”, it states that The Seven Sacred Teachings of the Anishinaabe—Respect, Courage, Love, Truth, Humility, Honesty, and Wisdom—served as the themes for the seven National Events, and ceremony and traditional observance played an important part in the National Events. It is recognized that there are many adaptions of the teachings. We encourage each circle to adapt the Seven Sacred Teachings of the Anishinaabe to the needs of their circle.

View all the guidelines that we use to ensure respectful and consistent gatherings.

LOVE: it is more important to care for one another
HONESTY: better to fail with honesty than succeed by fraud
RESPECT: give it, earn it, receive it
TRUTH: it is always easiest to speak the truth
HUMILITY: to be humble about your accomplishments is to be strong
COURAGE: let nothing stand in the way of doing the right thing
WISDOM: with hard work and dedication will come knowledge

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The Seven Sacred Teachings of the Anishinaabe

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