Candice Ward, an Indigenous freelance sports photographer, returned to Calgary to cover the team’s inaugural Indigenous Celebration game on Sept. 14.

After relocating to Las Vegas in 2022, Ward currently works with clients such as Getty Images, the Canadian Olympic Committee for Pairs 2024 and has done recent work for the NHL.

But she started taking photos of the Stampeders in 2007 while she was attending SAIT and covered the team editorially until officially joining the team as a contract game day photographer in 2018.

It only made sense to her to take time out of her crowded schedule to come shoot for the club’s first game honouring Indigenous communities in and surrounding the Calgary area.

“I think it was important to see that there are Indigenous people telling these stories, covering sports and in the sports space,” said Ward. “So, being with a team that I had been covering for so long, it just made sense for me to be there.

“It’s a team I’m familiar with and the team for the most part is familiar with me, and aside from the game itself it made sense to be there from a cultural component, to tell our own stories and cover it properly.”

Candice Ward

As a photographer, Ward’s mission is to capture and tell stories. Although her talents utilize a visual medium, storytelling is a practice that is integral to Indigenous culture.

“The two are hand-in-hand,” she said.

“My job is storytelling but also my culture is very storytelling. They’re different where my culture is more oral, and my job is more visual so it’s kind of bringing the two together. But I think the ability to tell the visual story involves the ability to create relationships and that’s very much a cultural thing.

“If you want to be getting the information, and receiving trust and getting the stories, you really have to build a strong relationship to get to that point and be able to do it right.

“So, aside from what I do, doing business with Indigenous people or obtaining knowledge from people, it takes a lot of trust, and I try to bring that into how I approach work. I think that resonates in a lot of the relationships I’ve built in the sports world with other creators, players, or coaches.”

Candice Ward

As Ward continues to break barriers as one of the only Indigenous women working in her field at the pro sports level, she strives to ameliorate her outreach to others in her community.

“It’s super important to me, but I feel like I’m failing in uplifting other people,” said Ward.

“I feel like I’m not visible enough to the right people. A lot of people in my community still don’t know that I’m Indigenous or that I’m there holding space and wanting to help uplift other people in the community.

“Again, it comes back to building the relationships and building the trust, and I’ve been in the sports world for so long and I’m not as super connected to my community per se. I have to do a better job of trying to connect people.”

Part of her trajectory to achieve that goal includes Indigenous Sports Professionals database, a network intended to connect individuals in Indigenous communities who are aspiring to build careers in the sports landscape with professionals already established in the field.

“I’m trying to do that through a database that I started, and not just photography-based but an all-encompassing (platform) for sports professionals,” she informed. “(It’s) for people that maybe work in production, or want to be a mascot, or dancers, graphic designers, those kind of jobs that exist in sports and trying to connect people into a larger network so when (teams) have Indigenous nights or celebrations and things like that, they have the ability to source videographers, TV hosts, graphics designers, artists to create logos, so that the celebrations are less about show and shows that people can work in this field and opportunities are available.

“Essentially, I’m trying to connect people who exist in the space already and connecting so they can have bigger opportunities or know who else is in other markets to connect with each other.”

In addition to the performances and special activations included at Indigenous-themed nights, Ward believes incorporating people in other aspects of the day’s events, such as game presentation, digital media, videography, etc., would be beneficial in enhancing the game day celebrations and in furthering the relationships organizations continue to build with their surrounding Indigenous communities.

“I think knowing that there are people that want to work in that space but don’t have the opportunity, maybe on those nights bringing in people to see that these opportunities are possible for them, and these are jobs for them,” said Ward.

“Giving inspiration where it’s like ‘This could be my job’ or ‘This could be my career path’ for someone who has always loved sports but knows they’re not going to make it as an athlete. Maybe they don’t even want to be an athlete, but their passion is videography, TV hosting, or sideline reporting. Helping to incorporate people in on that so others in the community can see themselves represented in different roles.

“I think culturally, sport in general just needs a little more inclusivity. Outside of players and coaches, and more within organizations there needs to be a little more diversity. Especially in Canada, our own people, there are plenty of Indigenous people who want to and dream of working in sports but don’t realize they can make that dream a reality. There are pathways to get there, and they may not know what they are, but seeing that their own people are in it, it’s an easier way to picture themselves there.”

Candice Ward

In addition to wearing their Indigenized logos created by Jacob Alexis, Richard Running Rabbit and Dr. Tyler White on their helmets, the Stampeders Indigenous celebrations included the national anthem sung by Dilayna Blackhorse in the traditional Blackfoot language, a halftime demonstration of the traditional Indigenous game Two Ball performed by local Indigenous youth, with Tsuu T’ina Nation member Hal Eagletail serving as PA announcer to walk fans through the rules and objectives of the game.

Activities also included a relay horse that accompanied Quick 6 throughout the evening, and the game available in Blackfoot with the broadcast carried on radio station CJWE (88.1 FM) with Butch Wolfleg and Jacob Leblanc calling the action.

Ahead of the special evening, the team was honoured to host members of the 7 Nations for an Indigenous prayer at the conclusion of the team’s walkthrough. Members in attendance included CSEC Indigenous Ambassador Brent Dodginhorse, Tsuu T’ina Nation Spiritual Leader Louie Heavenfire, Siksika Spiritual Leader Kent Ayoungman, Mini Thni Leader Watson Kaquitts, and Kainai Spiritual Leader Patrick Blackplume.

In August, general manager and head coach Dave Dickenson, receiver Marken Michel, defensive back Tre Roberson, and team president Jay McNeil along with other members of the organization made a visit to Dodginghorse Ranch to learn about the meaning behind the spirit of the horse in Treaty 7 territories.

“I think it’s great honouring the communities where you play,” said Ward. “It’s super important and I think leagues are starting to do a better job. Not the best job, but a better job year to year which is encouraging to see.

“There could be more done where you’re taking some things into the community maybe a little more directly. Not necessarily hosting games where there is no infrastructure, obviously, but cross-cultural sharing and learning between people and leagues. Involving more cultural mentors into your leagues and those sorts of things.

“The mentorship should go both ways; the sharing should go both ways. So, if you’ve got coaches or players mentoring people in Indigenous communities, it should go the other way too, so they are mentoring the coaches and players in cultural practices. It’s not a one-way street, it should be a shared mentorship, and a little more involvement in the communities that you’re playing in or near and really understanding the culture around you.”

Candice Ward

In Week 17, all CFL clubs proudly donned their Indigenous-designed logos to commemorate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Of course, the Stampeders were on a bye week, hence wearing theirs instead for their Indigenous Celebration game against the Alouettes earlier in September.

The nine team logos were created by local Indigenous artists to honour the game’s close ties with Indigenous communities across the country, and to underscore the league’s commitment to recognizing the past, while focusing on a path forward centred on awareness, education and action.

The Stamps logo was designed to emulate Contemporary Plains Style Traditional Art. It features the Stampeders’ iconic white horse adorned with paint styles that would be used on special occasions, including when going into battle. The feathers in the mane represent valor or coups. The face is adorned with paint around the eye to represent vision, while the stripes indicate acts of valor. The handprint on the chest represents a fierce horse, and the lightning bolts bring to mind speed and agility. The spotted hind quarter represents creation, stories and teachings.

The team logos were featured on players’ helmets, in-stadium programming, and on the broadcasts on CTV, TSN, RDS, CFL+ and CBS Sports Network. A portion of proceeds from all associated merchandise sold will be donated to support local Indigenous groups, organizations or programming, with Calgary’s specifically supporting local youth programming in each of the Treaty 7 First Nation Communities.

After consulting with local Indigenous communities to plan Orange Shirt Day initiatives, league-wide all dressed players wore orange and white pre-game jerseys prior to games. Some teams such as the Stampeders raffled or auctioned the jerseys with portions of the proceeds going towards supporting local Indigenous communities and initiatives, while others were donated to community members and organizations.

Candice Ward

As National Day for Truth and Reconciliation approaches, Ward reminds that the day is dedicated to a time of reflection.

“I think it’s important being mindful of Indigenous people on that day and being sensitive to the cultural traumas.

“It’s meant to be a day for reflection and growth and set you for the year to a path towards being better people, being better allies, being better co-workers, and organizations.”