LORISSA THOMAS

RESERVE: AHTAHKAKOOP FIRST NATION

AGE: 17

SPORT: SOCCER, DEFENSE

Lorissa Thomas from the Ahtahkakoop First Nation will be attending this year's North American Indigenous Games held in Regina. 

Thomas expressed her excitement when she found out she made it on Team Saskatchewan for soccer. 

"I was really happy! I was in shock actually because there was like 60 girls there for tryouts," she says.

She has been playing the sport since she was six-years-old and has always been active in sports by attending the Winter and Summer games every year playing soccer and broomball. 

Thomas says her older cousins had inspired her to play soccer at a young age and hasn't stopped since. She practices playing soccer in her First Nations community at the school. 

"Here in Ahtahkakoop, we play almost every day with my friends, classmates and even the younger kids," says Thomas.

Like every other NAIG athlete, she is looking forward on winning a gold medal and making the most of the experience. 

"I look forward to playing and making friends with my teammates," she adds.

Thomas' message to the younger ones who want to play sports is to never give up.

Thomas will be entering grade 12 in the fall and she hopes to attend the University of Saskatchewan to take the nursing program after graduation.