TRIATHLON
I am an amateur sports enthusiast. As part of my recovery from addiction and in response to a diagnosis as a type 2 diabetic, I have turned to the incredible sport of Triathlon to provide me with the mental clarity, focus and discipline to train my body to perform in ways it never has before. Thanks to my desire to live in a good way, I continue to train on a year-round basis to challenge negative stereotypes about the potential of First Nations people, and to show our people that recovery is worth it and that movement is medicine.
I have had a chance to share my message of hope with a few audiences over the last couple of years. In 2017, I appeared on the Unreserved radio program on CBC with Rosanna Deerchild to discuss my training as an endurance athlete. That year I would complete my first two Triathlons, a sprint distance and an Olympic distance event in Victoria, BC.
In 2018, I spoke at the 6th Annual National Indigenous Physical Activity and Wellness Conference in Vancouver shortly before completing my first Olympic distance triathlon at the 2018 Elk Lake Triathlon in Victoria, BC. I also became a grassroots rider for Easton Cycling serving as an ambassador for a large cycling company.
In 2019, I completed my third and fourth Triathlon in Victoria and became a brand ambassador for Cycology Canada while staying on as a grassroots rider for Easton, advancing the idea that diversity matters in sport. To that end, I contributed to the 2019 Tour De Victoria as a blog writer for the Tour where I was able to share reflections on my training program.
In 2021, I was pleased to be an invited speaker at the "Our Ways: Healing Through Traditional Health and Wellness" National Indigenous Diabetes Association annual gathering, reflecting on how I manage my T2D.
This year, I am pleased to be an ambassador for 7 Mesh, whose high quality cycling apparel is perfect for west coast road cycling. I am also on the board of directors for the National Indigenous Diabetes Association, helping to address diabetes prevention and management within Indigenous communities in Canada. I was featured in an article for Triathlete Magazine and am currently training for a standard distance Tri at the Westwood Lake Triathlon in Nanaimo, BC.