When Deanna Lewis is faced with a challenge, she evokes the image of her grandfather repeating his old mantra: "If there's a will, there's a way." With that attitude, the mother of two has toured Australia, Europe, Canada and the U.S. as an award-winning soccer player. And soon she'll be touring the most important country of all, Brazil, the home of her hero, soccer superstar Pel茅.
At the age of 28, Lewis can be sure she's making her grandfather proud. When she isn't working at her job as a Native ambassador or fundraising for yet another international soccer tour with her team in the Native Indian Football Association (NIFA), she's coaching her kids' soccer teams.
"My goal in life is to bring youth soccer to a professional level," said Lewis. "I believe I'm a leader and role model for our youth and want to lead by example. Show them the way. If I can do it, they can do it!"
Soccer called to Lewis at a very early age. She began playing at the age of four, and by the time she was 13, she had helped Team 小蓝视频 win the gold medal at the North American Indigenous Games in Edmonton. That was the beginning of an illustrious and on-going soccer career.
Lewis joined NIFA 10 years ago and fit right into the organization's mandate of "putting forward an image that all Aboriginal people can hold with pride as an example for all members of our society and aboriginal communities." She was born into the Squamish Nation band and raised to learn her traditional culture and language. Her Native name, given to her by her canoe journey family, is KalKalath or Big Woman of the Mountains.
On her first year with NIFA, the team toured Florida and during a five-hour bus trip, Lewis taught the team - all of whom were 10 years older than her - the Coast Salish anthem. To this day, the anthem is sung by team members at the beginning of every game.
The NIFA women's team has had an impressive track record since its inception in 1993. They've won their last two tours, one of which earned Lewis the Golden Boot award for the most goals, helping the team to win the Australian tour. NIFA offers a variety of sponsorship opportunities, but the program is still facing hardships.
"Due to lack of funding and poor economic conditions on most Indian Reserves in British Columbia, it is getting more and more difficult for the individuals to finance their costs and the program is in danger of becoming stagnant without financial support," states a NIFA newsletter.
Lewis is currently organizing pie sales and auctions to raise funds for a 16-day tour of Brazil and Argentina, which will cost $4,000 per player. Her uncles are also helping out by putting on a blues show at Totem Hall with their band, the Electric Warriors.
"I do it for my brothers and my kids to show them what's possible," said Lewis.
For more information or for sponsorship opportunities, contact Deanna Lewis at [email protected]@squamishchief.com
