Shining the spotlight on Indigenous History Month, the Vancouver Whitecaps are set to host the club’s annual Indigenous Peoples Celebration Match at BC Place Saturday night.

Squamish Member Brad Baker says Indigenous representation is a part of reconciliation and is part of today’s event.

“I think tonight’s match just raises the profile of Indigenous peoples and i’m hoping there will be young Indigenous peoples in the crowd,or social media see the professional organization honouring the First Peoples, and that they can see themselves play for the Whitecaps one day,” Baker said.

Earlier this month, the club also helped open two new mini-pitches — one of which was on Cowichan land — and honoured a former player, Terry Felix.

“In the 80s, I remember looking up to Terry Felix as a mentor and role model as a First Nations soccer player.”

Felix was the first Indigenous athlete in North America to play professional soccer, and is also the only Indigenous person to play for the Canadian Olympic Team and the Canadian National Team.

“I think what the Whitecaps are doing by working with communities around the mini pitches, it’s a great cause to increase the value of soccer in the community,” Baker said.

Whitecaps FC will also host a pre-match soccer jamboree on the pitch where more than 75 Indigenous youth from across the region will take part.

For a second consecutive year, Whitecaps FC will host an Indigenous Artists Market at the match.

Kickoff for the match is set for 7:30 p.m.