b'ROLE MODELSBeyond the Finish LineI n d i g e n o u s a t h l e t e s b u i l d o n t h e i r h a r d - e a r n e d s u c c e s s t o i n s p i r e I n d i g e n o u s y o u t h t o a i m h i g h i n t h e i r o w n l i v e sBy Matthew BradfordF rom Tom Longboats record-breakingracestothe FirthsistersOlympicruns, Indigenous athletes serve as a wellspring of inspiration for Indigenous communities. And like these pioneers and the legends before them, todays Indigenous athletes continue to crack barriers to professional sport and point the way forward for aspiring youth. There have always been trailblazers in Indigenous communitiesdoctors, teachers and athletes who have set the standard and pushed us beyond where their trail stops, says Michael Linklater, a celebrated Canadian basketball player andmemberoftheSaskatchewan Rattlers. So, for people like myself who find themselves in a position to inspire the next generation, its really a continuation of passing that knowledge and encouragement along. Linklater,aNehiyaw(Cree)from Thunderchild First Nation in Saskatchewan, is on the roster of Indigenous sporting icons who have drawn on lessons learned in their athletic careers to serve as role models for Indigenous youth. Among others included on this list is Waneek Horn-Miller, a Mohawk from Kahnawake First Nation in Quebec who built upon her success as a Canadian Olympic water polo player to become an impactful voice for the Indigenous community. Horn-Miller emphasizes the importance of actively inspiring others. When I came back from the Olympics my mentor, Olympic kayaker Alwyn Morris, said, I know youre a good athlete and youre very talented, but now whether or notIndigenous hockey youre going to be a great athlete willplayer Clayton Norris come down to what you do with youron the ice with the experience after your career is over,Philadelphia Flyersnotes Horn-Miller. 18A CCAB PUBLICATION2020'