Intertribal Life Newspaper -

EDMONTON, AB-Oilers defenceman Ethan Bear  honored his Indigenous heritage during the July 28 Battle of Alberta exhibition game by displaying his jersey name bar in Cree syllabics.

The 23-year-old from Ochapowace Nation in southern Saskatchewan said he was donning the name bar proudly on behalf of all past, present and future Indigenous hockey players.

It was an honor to wear the jersey, Bear said. "I feel like I will be wearing it for all those Indigenous players who came before me and those Indigenous kids dreaming of playing in the NHL."

Grand Chief Wilton Littlechild praised the young...