#16 - Rilee Manybears Iinomaahka (Running Buffalo): Community Leader and Gold Medalist
“One of my greatest accomplishments in life is being a drug and alcohol free first nations youth. I am honored and thrilled to join the I.S.C.A as newly ambassador. I feel physical activity, sport and recreation Is very important for our lives. It helps keeps the mind, body and spirit intact with each other. I’m very excited to bring some amazing ideas to the I.S.C.A family and will be cheering, encouraging everyone for these upcoming challenges. So stay fit, keep sharp, make good decisions.”
Rilee Manybears Iinomaahka (Running Buffalo) was raised on Siksika Nation, Alberta, Canada where he resided with his parents and his three younger siblings. During his elementary school years at the encouragement of one of his teachers, he joined their school track and field team and joining other sports in cross country, basketball, volleyball, and golf throughout his school years. In his final high school graduation year, he set a record for the Bassano School by competing in 4 different ASAA Provincial Championships in one year; Track and Field, Cross Country, Volleyball, and Skills (TV/Video Editing). It was also a devastating time when he lost his father who always supported and encouraged all his children in their sports and soon not long after, he began struggling with drugs and alcohol to numb his pain. At the encouragement of his younger brother, he begin to realize the self destructive path he was on was upsetting to his family. He began running again as his form of healing therapy. The following year, he began training for the 2014 North American Indigenous Games held in Regina, Saskatchewan, and won the gold medal in the 3,000 meter, and 2 bronze medals in the 1,500 m and 6K cross country events respectively. He also began training with the University of Calgary Track & Field Team preparing for the Canadian Cross Country Championships in Vancouver, British Columbia, later on that year. His highlight was in 2015, where he won the Gold Medal at the 1st Indigenous Games in the 8.4 Km event held in Palmas, Tocantins, Brazil, with 1,500+ athletes from over 20 countries all around the world participating. In 2016, he was selected to represent USA Team Running Strong to participate at 2016 Boston Marathon in April. in 2016, Rilee is apart of a youth program run by youth called “Siksika N7 and they run youth programs and events for the nations youth, the meaning of these events is to inspire the youth to make positive choices. The SN7 crew also brings in guest speakers for the youth so they can be inspired from them. In 2017 the Siksika N7 program has won a community change award from the ARPA (Alberta recreation parks association) and a youth role model award of Alberta that year as well. Rilee also serves as an ambassador for two non-proft organization, A.M.A Youth run club ambassador for Ever Active schools, and Spirit north.