OTTAWA REDBLACKS AND UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA GEE-GEE’S HOST FOOTBALL CAMP AT A’NOWARA’KO:WA ARENA
On Monday, July 31, 2023, the Ottawa REDBLACKS and the University of Ottawa Gee-Gee’s hosted a football camp for local Akwesasne and area youth. Ben Maracle, a resident of Tyendinaga, and quarterback for the University of Ottawa Gee-Gee’s hosted the event at the A’nowara’ko:wa Arena in the hopes of building the sport of football in indigenous communities.
The football camp was a collaborative effort between the Ottawa Redblacks, Gee-Gees Football, the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne’s Department of Health, Department of Community & Social Services, and Economic Development.
The football camp was attended by 40 Akwesasne and area youth, who were provided with football skills and drills, a question-and-answer session with the players, and were given a swag-bag with Redblacks and Gee-Gee’s team memorabilia, footballs, t-shirts, and a $25 gift to Akwesasne Sports. The players signed autographs and took pictures with the camp participants once the camp was complete. The Redblacks also donated a jersey signed by the team to the A’nowara’ko:wa Arena.
On behalf of the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, we’d like to thank the Ottawa Redblacks and the University of Ottawa Gee-Gee’s for an amazing event and look forward to hosting the event again in the future.
