The Young Pope (Lenny Belardo):
Chief Trevor, listen to me carefully. Nations are not only recognized with flags and borders. Sometimes, the greatest recognition comes through the game of the people—football. Soccer is the universal tongue.
Chief Trevor Carpenter:
Our youth already love the game, Holy Father. But do you really believe a First Nations team could make that much of a difference? We’ve been overlooked for generations.
The Young Pope:
Yes, I believe it. Look to Croatia. For centuries, they were under empires—Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian, Yugoslav. Their voice was suppressed. But then, when they stepped onto the field, wearing their red and white squares, the world saw them as a nation. In 1998, their run to the semifinals was not just sport—it was a declaration: We exist.
Chief Trevor Carpenter:
So you’re saying Turtle Island can gain recognition the same way? That a First Nations soccer team could stand on the pitch and say to the world: We are here, and we are sovereign.
The Young Pope:
Exactly. Soccer is not just a game, it is a baptism of nations. FIFA recognizes teams long before politicians do. Imagine the drumbeat and the chant, the eagle on the jersey, the stories carried in every goal. Children of Turtle Island would see their flag raised, their anthem sung.
Chief Trevor Carpenter:
It could unite the different nations too. Cree, Mohawk, Ojibwe, Haida, Mi’kmaq—all playing together under one banner. That would be powerful.
The Young Pope:
Yes, Chief Trevor. Unity on the field becomes unity in the heart. And when the world sees Turtle Island play, they will no longer be able to ignore Turtle Island’s sovereignty. Croatia did it with football. Turtle Island can too.