The fourth annual Every Child Matters Hitman Game was played at the Saddledome

The Calgary Hitmen and Siksika Health Services honored Indigenous culture and history with the fourth annual Every Child Matters hockey game on Saturday.

Now the main game of the city, the game aims to empower future generations through sports.

“It's a learning opportunity for me, the Hitmen, our fans and our players,” team vice president Mike Moore said. “It means as much as building relationships and partnerships with Indigenous culture and the Siksika Nation.”

This year the theme of the game was “hope”. The team says it represents hope, opportunity, path and opportunity, with a special focus on youth.

The youth of the nation took a leading role before and during the event.

Thousands of orange shirts were worn on the ice rink and in the stands.

The sweater, created by two local artists, shines a light on an important culture and language.

Orange Shirt Day is endorsed by its Canadian founder.

“The idea is to teach the story of what happened to us through sports,” Phyllis Webstad said. “It's treating indigenous people as human beings because we haven't always been treated that way. And that's the biggest thing for me.”

The fourth Every Child Matters was presented by the Aboriginal Friendship Center of Calgary, with the help of the Blackfoot Confederation, First Nations Health Consortium and Siksika Family Services.

It was played against the Moose Jaw Warriors.