With about 8 1/2 minutes left in warm-ups for the Raptors’ season opener on Wednesday night, an Indigenous land acknowledgment was played on the screens above centre court at Scotiabank Arena.
The Raptors joined the rest of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment’s teams by including recognition that their venue stands on Indigenous territory.
The Leafs started in late March, at the time the only team playing in the city because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Toronto FC, the Argonauts and Marlies followed. The Raptors were the last MLSE team to come home.
The video statement ends with: “As an organization, the Toronto Raptors commit to using our platform in sport to advance right relations with Indigenous peoples.