Hayley’s Story

First Parable* of Reconciliation

Hayley’s Story

September 2024

A vision of reconciliation

* par·​a·​ble | ˈper-ə-bəl  , ˈpa-rə- : a usually short fictitious story that illustrates a moral attitude or a religious principle     –  Merriam-Webster

 

Good afternoon, this is John G and I’m standing outside the Max Bell Arena. I have with me Hayley, Raj, Sonja and Marie.

John: So, Hayley, this is a big day for you.

Hayley: Yes, this is my first regular season game with the Winnipeg Ice of the Western Canada Junior Hockey League.

John: When you step on the ice you will break through glass ceilings; how does that make you feel?

Hayley: I’m not too concerned about the symbolism; I just want to play good hockey!

J:  Where are you from?

Hayley: Sagkeeng First Nation

J: What’s your story?

H: I came up through the minor hockey program at the Sagkeeng arena, and here I am!

J: Who are these people?

H: I billet with Raj, Sonja and Marie.

J: So, Raj, how did you and your family first become involved with Hayley’s hockey career? You don’t look like a typical hockey family.

Raj: (laughs) … as you can tell by how we look, and how we talk, that we weren’t born here. In fact, we immigrated from Andhra Pradesh in India about fifteen years ago, so that I could pursue my career as a business executive. We had never seen ice and snow before, but that very first winter, we absolutely fell in love with hockey!

J: how did you end up connecting with Hayley?

R:  What happened is that the pastor of a church at Sagkeeng came to our city church one Sunday. He came looking for volunteers to come to his church. Our job would be to make popcorn and hot chocolate for the kids who were skating on the rink that was flooded next door to the church.

I remember asking, “Do I have this straight? Your want us to drive 3 hours, round trip, just to arrive and sit for 2 hours, in case a kid shows up to skate? And you want us to commit to do this on a recurring basis?

He smiled broadly and said ‘yup’!”

The pastor said, “I don’t recommend going overboard on the indigenous study. There is a very real risk that you will end up substituting learning about reconciliation to doing reconciliation! But I would recommend that you do some study, just to reduce your risk of saying something stupid. I recommend the novel: “Indian Horse” by Richard Wagamese. It’s a hockey story!

So that is how it happened! That first night was interesting. As we arrived in the community, we discovered a Tim Hortons (another aspect of Canada that I truly love!), and as we went in the door a couple of kids made a nasty comment referring to us as residents of a country neighbouring India. I thought, oh darn, this is … just like the city … but it wasn’t. I was so impressed to be followed in by a tall young man who said “don’t pay any attention to them! Hi, my name is Dion, can I buy you a coffee?” We then proceeded to the church, made (and consumed) the hot chocolate and popcorn for two hours and then drove home.

J: soooo… you invested five hours and didn’t make a difference like that pastor suggested.

Raj: In truth, we probably invested 25-30 hours before anyone showed up, but that person happened to be Hayley!

J: Hayley, do you remember that first meeting?

H: I’ll never forget it! I had been advancing my skills through the excellent hockey program, but there were lots kids competing for ice time. I was told stories of a guy named Gordie Howe, who got extra ice time on prairie sloughs and rivers. But times are different now, and, as a girl, it didn’t feel safe to practice in evenings. So, when I heard that the pastor had created a rink, and was trying to staff it for safety, I was cautiously optimistic. It took me a few weeks before I went. I met Raj and his family the first night. (I have also met many other volunteers on many other nights). I immediately hit if off with Marie because we are the same age. Over time, I did teach her to skate, but it turns out that she has a greater passion for long distance running.

John: So, Raj, what happened next?

R: Suddenly our family was connected to Hayley, and her family, and her passion for hockey. Then, over time we, too, became a hockey family. We would try to get to Hayley’s home games at Sagkeeng and then we became road warriors to away games all over Southern Manitoba! (we even witnessed “the absurdity” of the early 20’s where racism was still a factor at the road games.) As Hayley got better and better, she was scouted by several hockey organizations. And here we are to watch her play in her first ever junior game!

J: and now you and your family have a new role in Hayley’s life?

R: Yes, we are honored to be her Junior Hockey billet family during the time that she plays for Winnipeg. (Ed note: Billet families are a long-established Canadian hockey tradition. There is more information on the Hockey Canada website.)

John: There you have it. Another Adventure in Reconciliation!

 

Author’s note: this short fictional story is intended to illustrate a potential urban Christian response to a very real issue experienced by rural young people as they come to the city for education or work. This issue was addressed in the July 3, 2019 edition of Windspeaker.com entitled: Girls from remote communities need tools to protect them from urban predators

 

The model of the “family billet” concept that has been used in Junior Hockey for decades: Here is what the Selkirk Steelers Website has to say about billet families. https://www.selkirksteelers.com/become-a-billet-family.

 

Reconciliation requires relationship. Relationship requires mutual trust. Trust requires time and mutual involvement in an activity aimed at a higher good.

 

About the author:

Chris Boyle is a resident of the “greater Sagkeeng” Community and he has frequented the Sagkeeng Arena, Sagkeeng Christian Fellowship, (and Tim Hortons!) for the past four years.