Global Network Ambassador Savanna Smith receives National Indigenous Coaching Award

The Aboriginal Sport Circle announced the recipients of the 2023 National Indigenous Coaching Awards on 30 Oct. This year’s winners are Tyndall Fontaine of Manitoba and Savanna Smith of British Columbia. “It is an honour for the Aboriginal Sport Circle to be celebrating the accomplishments and impacts these two coaches have made for Indigenous youth in the field of play and within their communities. Tyndall and Savanna are leaders within the Indigenous sport community and are creating positive opportunities for Indigenous youth across the country.” says Rob Newman, President of the Aboriginal Sport Circle.

Savanna is an international level lacrosse coach, and a WBLGN ambassador from Surrey, British Columbia. She has had the pleasure of coaching at the North American Indigenous Games multiple times, leading her team to the podium each time. She has also coached at the international level, serving as the Team Manager for the 2019 Haudenosaunee Female Lacrosse Team for the 2019 World Lacrosse U19 Women’s Lacrosse Championships. She is a well-known and well-respected Box and Field Lacrosse coach. Savanna embeds Indigenous culture and traditional practices into coaching, ensuring that her athletes are developing holistically.

"I have no words to fully encompass all of this, overwhelming amount of gratitude and my spiritual side is radiating with light. I'm thankful for the Medicine Game and the gift it's given me, the ability to share my passion with our youth and giving them the best gift of all encouragement and time." expressed Savanna, upon hearing the news.

On November 3, 2023, the National Indigenous Coaching Award recipients will be presented their award at the Petro-Canada Sport Leadership Awards Gala hosted by the Coaching Association of Canada in Calgary, Alberta.