Waneek Horn-Miller

Waneek Horn-Miller, a Mohawk from Kahnawake, Quebec, started swimming competitively at the age of seven, eventually winning 20 Gold Medals between 1990-97. At fourteen, she stood strong with her Nation in what came to be known as “0ka”, during which she was struck to the ground by a soldiers bayonet. Water Polo became her focus and she made it onto the Canadian Women’s Water Polo team. They won Gold in the 1999 Pan-American Games. Voted MVP, Waneek became co-captain and proudly led the Canadian Team at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. Not afraid of much, Waneek took on Water Polo Canada and fought her dismissal. Waneek continues to inspire young people and encourages them to pursue their dreams. She says her mother taught her “That being dedicated to something is important.

Waneek was awarded the Tom Longboat Award as best national female athlete.