Six Outstanding Indigenous Athletes in Interior Region Receive Prestigious Award

Traditional Territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples / Victoria B.C. (June 22, 2022) – The Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation Council (I·SPARC) is pleased to announce the six outstanding athletes named as the Interior regional recipients of the 2021 Premier’s Awards for Indigenous Youth Excellence in Sport.

  • Brock Tomlinson, 19, Swimming, Fernie, Métis Nation British Columbia
  • Darius Sam, 21, Endurance Running, Lower Nicola, Neskonlith
  • Keanu Manuel, 14, Athletics and Snowboarding, Merritt, Upper Nicola Band
  • Mishra Cameron, 15, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Vernon, Okanagan Indian Band
  • Raine Celesta-Camille, 17, Baseball and Snowboarding, Barriere, Simpcw First Nation
  • Vanessa Michel, 17, High School Rodeo, Cache Creek, Upper Nicola Band

I·SPARC, in collaboration with the Province of British Columbia, launched the regional nomination process in 2021, receiving nominations from each of I·SPARC’s six regions (Fraser, Interior, Northeast, Northwest, Vancouver Coastal, and Vancouver Island). Applications were open to Indigenous youth athletes 25 years and younger who compete in performance sport and demonstrate a commitment to their education, culture, and promoting healthy and active lifestyles.

“Congratulations to the Premier’s Awards recipients in the Interior region! It’s truly inspiring to witness and learn all that you have achieved as athletes, students and representatives of your communities and nations. We are so proud of you for achieving your successes. Being involved in sports will bring you friends, travel, healthy lifestyles, resiliency, and allow you to set and achieve goals. I wish you all the best in your upcoming competitions as you continue your journey in sport,” said David Lafontaine, Métis, I·SPARC Interior Regional Action Team member.

Due to the pandemic, the Regional Awards celebrations are not being held in-person this year. As a way of honouring this year’s recipients, I·SPARC has produced a series of commemorative videos highlighting each of the region’s athletes to celebrate their outstanding achievements. The honouring videos can be found on I·SPARC’s YouTube channel and the Interior region video can be found here: https://youtu.be/ChCZI0sTGBU.

“These regional awards celebrate Indigenous youth excellence in sport, an important part of our government’s commitment to reconciliation,” said Premier John Horgan. “Each year, it is with great pride that we partner with I·SPARC to acknowledge Indigenous youth who have stood out for their leadership, exceptional athleticism and exemplary commitment to their sport, community, and culture. Congratulations, you are an inspiration to us all.”

“I am proud to be Nisga’a, Gitsxan, Cree and Ojibway and the Minister responsible for Sport. I am so thrilled to congratulate each of the 29 Indigenous athletes for being so amazing!” said Melanie Mark, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. “Sport is a powerful medicine that truly changed my life. It has the power to uplift individuals and inspire communities. These young athletes are the best of the best and a shining example of reconciliation in action.”

Over the course of this week, I·SPARC will be announcing the 29 regional recipients of the Premier’s Awards for Indigenous Youth Excellence in Sport, by region. These regional recipients automatically serve as nominees for the Provincial Premier’s Awards, which will be announced later this year.

About the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council

The Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I·SPARC) is a provincial organization established with the purpose of improving the health outcomes of Indigenous peoples by supporting and encouraging physically active individuals, families, and communities. The programs and services delivered by I·SPARC are designed to build capacity and increase access to sport, recreation, and physical activity in First Nations communities, Métis Chartered Communities, Aboriginal Friendship Centres, schools, and other delivery agencies throughout the province.