Two Chilliwack athletes have officially been immortalized in the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame with their unveiling of the world’s first, fully immersive Digital Indigenous Sports Gallery.
Chilliwack’s Kaila Mussell and Lara Mussell Savage – both members of the Sqwá First Nation – are among the 14 Indigenous athletes who have earned featured profiles in the new exhibit.
Kaila, considered a trailblazer, became the first-ever professional female saddle bronc rider.
Lara is a former two-time world champion in ultimate frisbee, and served as a project manager for Aboriginal Sport and Youth as a part of the Vancouver Organizing Committee leading up to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic games.
The Indigenous Sport Gallery at the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame is the largest known permanent gallery in the world dedicated to Indigenous sport, and with the unveiling of one of the most comprehensive digitization projects in sports history, it can now be experienced through virtual reality by visitors from across British Columbia as well as globally.
READ MORE: Chilliwack’s Lara Mussell-Savage recognized for sports excellence
“On behalf of the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame team, we are tremendously grateful to the Government of Canada and the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Province of British Columbia, B.C. Arts Council and individuals who donated through the 100 Ravens program to bring this remarkable initiative to life – allowing us to continue to celebrate Indigenous sport together and properly recognize, profile and preserve the legacy of Indigenous sport in B.C.,” said CEO Michelle Kitchen.
“The vital support of partners creates a new dynamic dimension of the gallery that will provide greater access to communities across the province, Canada and beyond.”
The potential to bring the digital experience through virtual reality headsets to physical spaces beyond the BC Sports Hall of Fame will now open doors to expanding educational content for students across the province as part of the hall’s Hero In You program. With lesson plans on Indigenous athletes such as Terry Fox already developed, the hall can take the virtual interactive experience into the classroom. The program will also include the support of the featured Indigenous athletes and coaches themselves as in-class storytellers.
Click here for Kaila Mussell’s featured profile.
Click here for Lara Mussell Savage’s featured profile.