the strength of rilee
Picking himself back up from the pain of losing his father was a difficult process, but with the help of his brother, Rilee began to recognize the destructive path he was on. A year later, after many physical and emotional challenges, Rilee was able to begin training and running again, winning many medals that culminated with him receiving an invitation to participate in the World Indigenous Games in Brazil, where he won gold in an 8.4-km event combining road and cross-country racing.
The Heroes are Warriors program was created to serve Indigenous young people like Rilee who are at-risk and experiencing difficulties with their mental health. Rilee did not have access to Heroes are Warriors at the most critical time of his life; however, he was trained as a facilitator in 2019. Rilee credits the program for helping him face his anxiety, elevating his gifts & abilities, and strengthening his capacity as a Siksika Nation youth leader.
Rilee believes in the strength of Heroes are Warriors.
make a difference in the lives of indigenous youth.
Today, Rilee is pursuing his dream of participating in the next Olympics. In the meantime, he is supporting youth in his community, facilitating the Heroes are Warriors program, and sharing his story with as many people as he can – his story that is full of perseverance and hope.
If you are interested in supporting at-risk Indigenous Youth, please consider donating to our Heroes are Warriors programs by clicking the link below.
“There's quite a bit of challenge, especially in First Nation communities, where intergenerational trauma plays a huge role. not only that, but there's a lot of young people who are very insecure and who also deal with a lot of anxiety. Programs like Heroes are Warriors helps give them the life skills to deal with their personal feelings and how to overcome them.”
— Rilee, Siksika Nation