Smudge The Blades
A First Nations-run business is celebrating the hockey community and sharing pride in First Nations culture through clever sayings on T-shirts, hoodies and hats.
Smudge the Blades was started by Harlan Kingfisher, a father of four from Saskatchewan who now lives with his family in Alberta.
Kingfisher grew up playing in First Nations hockey tournaments where members of the communities would show up to support the players from their bands. The brand launched two months ago at an online store and has been gaining popularity among the hockey community.
Designs range from Cree syllabics that translate to “Smudge the blades,” to sayings like “First Nation Hockey Sensation” and “Real deadly hockey auntie.”
Kingfisher said the name Smudge the Blades comes from his own ritual before a hockey game where he would take sweetgrass and smudge his hockey stick and skates, to play well and get goals. Kingfisher said he wasn’t able to play hockey until he was older because it’s an expensive sport and he recognizes that as a barrier for some youth. He said youth hockey changed his life and put him on a good path and he wants other youth to be able to experience that.
A portion of the sales from the clothing goes back to First Nations youth to help with purchasing new hockey equipment and with hockey registration fees.
