Author: BC Sports Hall of Fame
Published: July 23rd, 2024
Olympic & Paralympic Tradition in the Indigenous Sport Gallery
With the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic & Paralympic Games fast approaching, starting on July 26th and August 28th respectively, we thought that this served as a great opportunity to highlight Indigenous athletes from British Columbia who have helped pave the way for today’s Indigenous Olympians and Paralympians.
The Province
Henry ‘Hawkeye’ Baker
Inducted in 1999 as a member of the 1936 North Shore Indians, Henry ‘Hawkeye’ Baker, from the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw, was one of the best goalies in BC box lacrosse during the 1930s. In addition to being a staple within BC and Canadian lacrosse, Baker also had the opportunity to represent Canada at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics. Lacrosse was chosen as a demonstration sport for the 1932 Summer Olympics to display the game of lacrosse within the United States and to visitors from all around the world. Baker was selected as a member of Canada’s all-star team who competed in a three games series against the United States. Canada lost the series 1-2 against a Johns Hopkins University team who were chosen to represent the United States. For his participation in the Game, Baker received a participation medal and an Olympic diploma. Baker continued making his mark on the game of lacrosse, continuing his career with the North Shore Indians, winning the 1936 Maitland Trophy for outstanding play and sportsmanship in BC Senior lacrosse. Baker was inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in their inaugural class in 1965.
Angela Chalmers
Angela Chalmers, member of the Birdtail Sioux First Nation, was inducted in 2004 and was one of the best middle-distance runners in the world in the 1980s and 1990s. After competing at Northern Arizona University, Angela started representing Canada on an international level in the 1500m and 3000m. Though she missed qualifying for the 1984 LA Olympics, Angela promised her father before he passed away that she would succeed at making it to an Olympic Games. After winning silver in the 3,000m race at the 1987 Pan American Games, Angela qualified for the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics and raced in the 1,500m and 3,000m but placed out of the top ten in both events. Angela became the first female athlete to win both the 1,500m and 3,000m at the 1990 Commonwealth Games which increased the expectations of her to do the same at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Angela missed the event final of the 1,500m race but was able to claim a bronze medal in the 3,000m becoming the second Canadian in four years to medal in the 3000m. Angela marks her bronze medal in Barcelona as one of the greatest accomplishments of her career. Though she was slated to represent Canada at a third Olympic Games in the 1,500m and 3,000m a leg injury prevented Angela from doing so. In 2024, the Canada Sports Hall of Fame announced that Angela is a part of their 2024 Induction Class, alongside BC Sports Hall of Fame Honoured Members Alex Nelson and Debbie Brill.
Monica Pinette
Featured in the Indigenous Sport Gallery, Monica Pinette of Métis ancestry, competed for Canada in modern pentathlon at the 2004 Athens Olympics and 2008 Beijing Olympics. Monica was one of the first Canadians, male or female, to qualify for the Olympics in modern pentathlon. At the 2004 Athens Olympics, Monica was the only known Indigenous athletes to compete at the Games and wore her Métis sash at the Closing Ceremonies as a way of representing her heritage on the world stage. Monica placed 13th in Athens, the highest a Canadian has finished in modern Pentathlon at the Olympics. In the lead up to the 2008 Games, Monica became a silver medalist at the 2007 Pan American Games to earn a berth to the Beijing Olympics. Unfortunately, the 2008 Games were not as successful as she had hoped, placing 27th. Monica openly criticized the new format of modern pentathlon and the quality of horses in Beijing and called to have the sport return to its previously more successful format. Monica hopes to inspire a generation of Indigenous athletes and hopes to mentor future modern pentathletes to have success in the sport.
Richard Peter
Inducted in 2010, Richard Peter from the Cowichan Tribes, represented Canada at five Paralympic Games. Richard was first introduced to wheelchair basketball when a travelling team did a demonstration at his high school for wheelchair awareness week. Initially Richard was hesitant to try out wheelchair sports, as he was happy adapting to playing sports with his friends and family but eventually, he fell in love with the game. Richard debuted on the Canadian men’s national team in 1994 and attended his first Paralympic Games in 1996. Heading into the next Paralympic cycle, Richard became a staple on the men’s national team, known for his defending and scoring abilities. At the 2000 Sydney Paralympics, Richard won his first Paralympic gold medal with Canada defeating the Netherlands 57-43. Defending their Paralympic title, Canada went undefeated in eight games and defeated Australia 70-53 to become back-to-back Paralympic gold medalists. After winning a world championship in 2006, Richard and the Canadian men’s national team were keen to win a third Paralympic title at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics. Unfortunately, the Canadian men’s team fell short, after losing 72-60 to Australia but came away with a silver medal after an exciting final matchup. In Richard’s final Paralympic Games, the Canadian men’s national team wanted to redeem themselves after a tough loss to Australia in the 2008 gold medal match. After going undefeated, Canada faced Australia in the final once again and came out on top with a 64-58 victory to win a gold medal at the 2012 London Paralympics. Richard ended his wheelchair basketball with four Paralympic medals (3 gold, 1 silver) and continues to be an ambassador and advocate for participation in wheelchair sports.
Wrestling Canada Lutte
Justina Di Stasio
Unlike previous athletes, the final featured athlete is heading into their first Olympic Games. Justina Di Stasio of Norway House Cree ancestry is about to make her way to Paris to compete in freestyle wrestling for Canada. Justina qualifying for the Olympics has been a long journey, after serving as the alternate at both the 2016 Rio Olympics and 2020 Tokyo Olympics she knew she wanted to give it another shot for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Accomplished on the international wrestling scene for Canada, Justina is the 2018 world champion, 2019 Pan American Games champion, and 2022 Commonwealth Games champion. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Justina shifted to focusing on both her mental and physical health to become the best wrestler she could be. Training her mind and body allowed her to have a successful lead up to the Pan American Qualifier in Mexico, where she earned her spot for the Paris Olympics in the 76kg weight class. As an older athlete, Justina feels that she is more prepared now than ever to handle the pressure of an Olympic Games. Justina hopes that through her wrestling career that she can inspire the next generation of wrestlers. The BC Sports Hall of Fame wishes Justina luck at the 2024 Paris Olympics!
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