November 14, 2023 – ALS is excited to feature this month’s 7th Generation Role Model, Mila Nebenionquit! Mila is the daughter of Cristina Nebenionquit, who is an Aboriginal Court Worker with Aboriginal Legal Services. Mila, 10, is a member of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek First Nation. Mila leads a busy life with attending school, powwow dancing, and she is an avid basketball player.
This past November, the Toronto Raptors held an Indigenous Heritage Night. At this event, Mila delivered the game ball for the Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks. This opportunity came to Mila from Dr. John Hupfield and Deanne Hupfield who facilitate the Pow Wow Club held at MLSE Launchpad in Toronto. Delivering the game ball was exciting for Mila given her love of basketball.
Mila’s basketball journey began at Jump Thru Hoops, which partnered with the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto offering training and mentorship opportunities to Toronto’s urban Indigenous youth. She uses basketball to empower herself and lead her to mino bimaadiziwin (the good life) and is also a positive role model in her home community of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek First Nation, where she is the current reigning, Miss Atikameksheng.
Let us all give her a round of applause for continuing to be a positive role model and for representing Atikameksheng Anishnawbek and Toronto’s urban Indigenous youth. She brings us hope and honour that the 7th Generation will prevail.
Chantell Barker