Kennedy Kneller’s MA Thesis Proposal – Nov 4

Title: Understanding hockey through community: Indigenous girls and women’s experiences in ‘Canada’s game’

Supervisor: Dr. Moss Norman
Committee members: Dr. Erica Bennett, Dr. Courtney Szto,  Dr. Dan Henhawk

Abstract: Referred to as ‘our Game,’ hockey in Canada is touted as the game that brings Canadians together (Szto, 2020). Yet this sentiment masks hockey’s inextricable ties to the formation and maintenance of a white, masculine Canadian identity, an identity that excludes those who do not fit within this narrow construction. Perhaps most significantly for the present project, dominant constructions of hockey have the effect of simultaneously erasing the historical and ongoing presence of Indigenous people both in the game and on this land (McKegney & Phillips, 2018). Despite this, hockey holds an important place in many Indigenous communities, embraced in ways that impose local, traditional meanings onto Euro-western frameworks (Robidoux, 2012). Particularly, in rural and remote spaces, hockey is understood by both Indigenous and non-Indigenous community members to provide a sense of heritage, cultural identity, and social capital (Rich, 2021). While limited research exists on the experiences of male Indigenous players, to date there is even less exploring the experiences of female Indigenous players, specifically within a remote community context. Using a community-centred approach, this research looks to explore these experiences through conversational interviews and researcher reflections (field notes), working with the Tahltan community of Dease Lake in Northern British Columbia. Acknowledging these experiences exist at the intersection of colonial and gendered oppression, I will be guided by the following question:  How are the experiences of Indigenous girls and women in ice hockey negotiated and informed by local knowledges and cultural values? More specifically, lines of inquiry might examine: 1) their experiences playing hockey in their communities, with a particular focus on how they perform, negotiate, and embody their gender identities in the sporting spaces of their communities, and 2) how these localized hockey experiences are shifting in relation to broader provincial, national, and international forces.