Sgt. Chantal Larocque hopes that singing 害羞草研究所淥 Canada害羞草研究所� in English, French and Algonquin at Rogers Centre before a Toronto Blue Jays game will open everyone害羞草研究所檚 eyes to the possibilities of creating a more inclusive game experience.

Larocque, who is an officer with the Anishinabek Police Service, sang the national anthem on Saturday as part of the Major League Baseball team害羞草研究所檚 ceremony for National Truth and Reconciliation Day. She said that including Indigenous languages in the national anthem more frequently would help Canadians work toward reconciliation year-round, not just once per year.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 what we do the remaining 364 days in the year where we can break down the barriers, the stereotypes, the misinformation that we害羞草研究所檝e received over the years in the education system,害羞草研究所� said Larocque. 害羞草研究所淢aybe it will open the door to all sporting venues to have performances of 害羞草研究所極 Canada害羞草研究所� with Indigenous language.

害羞草研究所淭he more we expose people to it, I think the more we害羞草研究所檙e headed toward reconciliation.害羞草研究所�

A moment of reflection was part of the ceremony, followed by Larocque害羞草研究所檚 rendition of the national anthem.

Chief Jamie Wolfe of Muskowekwan First Nation, Chief Lloyd Buffalo of Day Star First Nation, Chief LeeAnn Kehler of Kawacatoose First Nation, and Chief Byron Bitternose of George Gordon First Nation were scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Members of the Touchwood Agency Tribal Council, part of the Jays Care Indigenous Rookie League, were on hand at the Jays Care Community Clubhouse.

Larocque said it was an honour to be included in the ceremony and that she害羞草研究所檚 happy the Blue Jays are shining a spotlight on the Anishnabek Police Service.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 so meaningful to me but so many other people as well, because, at the end of the day, it害羞草研究所檚 not about me, it害羞草研究所檚 about Indigenous people,害羞草研究所� said Larocque. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 about Indigenous policing.

害羞草研究所淗ow often have you seen Indigenous policing be highlighted in a positive way? What a huge honour for our little police service to get this opportunity.害羞草研究所�

The Anishinabek Police Service serves 16 First Nations communities across Ontario. It has 71 sworn officers and 20 civilian members at 12 detachments.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e mandated to provide the same services (as other police forces) but we do it in a culturally sensitive manner, more in tune to the history of Indigenous people in Canada,害羞草研究所� said Larocque, noting that police officers from other forces were used to forcibly remove children from their families and put them in residential schools, making Indigenous policing an important part of reconciliation.

害羞草研究所淭he one thing we do, I think, better than most police service services out there is community policing and we do it without any funding.

害羞草研究所淲e do it because we害羞草研究所檙e involved with the community, we害羞草研究所檙e engaged with the community, and often community members are friends, relatives, family members. It害羞草研究所檚 that personal touch that makes us a bit different.害羞草研究所�

Jays Care, the Blue Jays charitable foundation, also donated a total of $150,000 to 13 Indigenous-led organizations across Canada.

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press