Joleen Mitton is a player and manager of the All My Relations Basketball Team, and coach for the Junior All Native basketball team in the unseeded territories of the Squamish, Musqueam, and Tsleil-Waututh. While she takes pride in her personal accomplishments, Mitton's greatest pride stems from creating a healthy avenue for Indigenous youth to connect with their culture through sports. Underscoring the often-overlooked legacy of Indigenous athletes in Canada, Mitton points out their contributions in lacrosse, kayaking, and canoeing, while highlighting the historical role of sports in teaching vital skills in a fun way.
For Mitton, sports mean everything—a space of freedom, a source of deep relationships, and a medium to pass down knowledge to the youth. Actively contributing to shaping the next generation of Indigenous athletes, she coaches young talents in basketball, providing a safe space for self-expression and imparting valuable skills on the court. As she puts it, she is contributing to shaping the next generation of Indigenous athletes by:
