4 First Nations athletes become inaugural Nikanus Red Dress Leadership Award winners

Four First Nations youth were announced this week as the winners of the new Nikanus Red Dress Leadership award, which recognizes leaders in sports, community and culture in Atlantic Canada.

Erin Denny, Allison (Ally) Martin, Angelina Taylor and Kennah Brant are the inaugural winners of the award, which was formed in partnership with the 2023 North American Indigenous Games and the Genevieve Francis Memorial Fund.

Nikanus is the Mi'kmaw word for youth ambassador.  

"It's a huge honour, especially to be included with the other three talented women who also won the award," said Brant, 16, a multi-sport athlete.

Brant, who is Kanien'kehá:ka from the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte in Ontario, lives in Summerside, P.E.I. and competes in track and field, soccer and hockey. She said sports are an empowering outlet.

"When I'm competing, I'm representing my people and I show their determination and I show their power," said Brant.

Ryan Francis, chair and founder of the Genevieve Francis Memorial Fund, said the award is meant to honour the athletes' stories.

"It gives recognition to these young women that understand how sport, community and culture are all interconnected and that was really important to us," said Francis.

'Really special'

The four winners each receive $1,027 for educational purposes. The amount honours Jana Headrick, a former University of New Brunswick women's hockey player from Garden River First Nation in Ontario, who wore jersey number 27 and inspired the award with her commitment to Indigenous youth. 

Denny, a forward for the women's hockey team at Saint Mary's University in Halifax, said she hopes the award encourages other young Indigenous athletes.

"To see all these girls, Indigenous girls, coming into the sport and keeping up with it, it's really special," said Denny, who is from Eskasoni First Nation on Cape Breton Island.

Denny has played hockey since she was eight and has been twice recognized as a USPORTS Academic All-Canadian: a university team athlete who maintains at least an 80 per cent average for their classes.

Taylor, 16, was at her high school in Halifax when she learned she won.

"When I got the e-mail that I won the award, I was at school with my Indigenous support worker and I dropped my phone and gasped and she was like, 'What happened?' And then I had to tell her," said Taylor, who is from Wasoqopa'q (Acadia First Nation) in Nova Scotia.

"It was just so much fun."

Taylor competes in archery. She remembers the first time she drew back a bow, she hit the bull's-eye and fell in love with the sport.

She's used her sports experience to learn more about her culture, and took in cultural teachings at NAIG and the Mi'kmaw Summer Games. Now, she's beading and learning to dance the ko'jua, a Mi'kmaw traditional dance, and jingle dress.

Martin is a competitive dancer and has connections to both Millbrook and Membertou First Nations in Nova Scotia. She said she was surprised to win but has always seen herself as a leader and hopes other Mi'kmaq see dance as a path forward.

She said she hopes to apply to dance schools and one day open a dance studio in her home community. 

"It just feels really good to be a sort of a role model to other Indigenous youth and be like, 'Hey, like just step out your comfort zone,'" said Martin, 17.