O Canada was sung in Cree before an NHL game and it was just beautiful
Edmonton Oilers fans were treated to a unique version of the national anthem on Saturday night, when "O'Canada" was performed in Cree.
Kiya Bruno — a 14-year-old at Wetaskiwin Composite High School — performed the anthem at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alta. to an audience of about 18,000 people.
Thank you to Kiya Bruno for performing O Canada in both English & Cree prior to #Oilers vs. Preds in honour of @Scotiabank #HockeyDay in Canada being held in Yellowknife! 🇨🇦@ScotiaHockey | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/CeDzJRf8h5
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) February 9, 2020
The teen previously performed the anthem in Cree at a Blue Jays game in June 2019.
And naturally, Canadians are loving it.
This woman hopes that the Cree version of the anthem will be performed more often.
I hope we hear this more often. She has such a lovely voice and I loved hearing the anthem in Cree, just beautiful ❤️.
— Christina Mitchell 🇨🇦 (@christinainyeg) February 10, 2020
And this person wanted to offer Kiya Bruno their congratulations.
A big shout out to Kiya Bruno for the wonderful job this 15 yr old did singing the national anthem in Cree and English at the last Oiler game. Well done young lady..... pic.twitter.com/QFhSn7zRs9
— Taj Brownize (@TajBrownize) February 9, 2020
This person's heart was warmed by the reaction of defenceman Ethan Bear, who grew up in Ochapowace Nation.
It was really cool watching Bear smile while the anthem was sung in Cree. It made me smile too. https://t.co/nPbUv0o56u
— Jason Mills (@iamjasonmills) February 9, 2020
And Bear even commented on the performance later, saying that hearing the national anthem in Cree "hits different."
It definitely hits different. I'm glad they're giving more opportunities for the beautiful cree language to be out there. Kiya sang beautiful. Bear's reaction was touching. I love being Native. 💙 pic.twitter.com/HiNLb5v3Bf
— ♡ (@draisaitlxo) February 9, 2020
The Canadian national anthem was performed in Cree once before at a hockey match, when Akina Shirt sang "O'Canada" at a NHL game in 2007.
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