DREAM CATCHER COUNCIL
The Dream Catcher Council includes athletes, artists, and humanitarians committed to lending their platform and voices to help support indigenous communities throughout North America.
Shayna’s heritage is the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin. She is passionate about mentoring and inspiring others to lead healthy lifestyles through sports and cycling and has hosted various community cycling events including numerous trips to different Native American reservations. Shayna has been particularly committed to bringing awareness to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls pandemic currently happening across North America.
Raised in Roseville, California, Shayna started out as a competitive runner and triathlete from elementary through high school. In 2012, her senior year of high school, she decided to switch her focus from competing in multiple sports (track and field, cross country, triathlons, and cycling), to focusing solely on cross-country mountain biking. She also represented the national team, and won the mountain bike national championship title in 2013. While attending school at UCLA, she competed in both road and mountain bike racing with the UCLA cycling team. In 2016, she graduated with a B.A. in Psychology and went on to work as a physical therapy aide. She then became a USA Cycling certified coach while continuing with her professional cycling career.
Shayna raced with the BMC MTB Development team from 2012-2014 and the Liv Co-Factory MTB team from 2015-2016. In 2017, she switched her focus from mountain biking to road racing after joining Team TWENTY24 whom she was with through 2021. Shayna signed with L39ion of Los Angeles for the 2022 season, a team committed to increasing diversity and inclusion in cycling.
shayna powless, co-founder
Eli Ankou is fiercely proud of his Indigenous and African heritage, being of the Ojibwe tribe through his mother, Nicole, and with family in the Dokis First Nation near Sudbury. He dived deeper into his culture in college where he met fiancé Shayna Powless. A professional cyclist, Powless is a member of the Oneida tribe of Wisconsin. Her brother Neilson was the first U.S. Native American to compete in the Tour de France.
Together the couple founded the Dream Catcher Foundation, with the aims of impacting and inspiring Indigenous communities and youth through sports and raising awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. They recently completed a fundraising campaign and provided brand new bikes for the youth of Seneca Nation near Buffalo.
“I grew up with a strong tie to my identity as an Indigenous person as well as my African roots. I really started learning more about my people and my culture at UCLA,” says Ankou, for whom the harrowing past 12 months — with the discovery of unmarked graves at the sites of former residential schools and the national awakening that followed — have strengthened his resolve to make an impact with the Dream Catcher Foundation.
“My mom was almost taken by the Canadian government,” says Ankou, who fronted an NFL campaign for Truth and Reconciliation Day last September. “They swung by my grandparents’ house on more than a few occasions and (my grandfather) was pretty much telling them, ‘You’re not taking my kids.’ My mother was this close. I would maybe never have existed. That’s one situation for one family. Think how many families were affected by this.”
eli ankou, co-founder
Ashley Callingbull is a Cree First Nations woman from the Enoch Cree Nation in the province of Alberta, Canada. She is very devoted to her culture and people, and takes pride in her Native Cree heritage, and has shown this through her volunteer work with community Elders and youth.
Ashley is a actress, model, jingle dress dancer and First Nation’s activist who was Mrs. Universe 2015, an actress on the Gemini award winning series Blackstone, CBC's 8th Fire Series, Catch The Dream series, Tribal and a contestant on the Amazing Race Canada.
Ashley is also an international motivational speaker and role model for many educational institutions, workshops, conferences and award ceremonies. She has spoken at Harvard University, TED Talks and WE Day. Her hard work and charity was recognized as she received the Role Model Award from the Dreamcatcher Foundation and also received the Top 20 Under 30 Award in Canada. Ashley was named one of Canada’s Top 10 Power Women by Optimyz Women’s Wellness. Ashley received the Youth First Nations award from the Indspire Awards which represents the highest honour the Indigenous community awards its people. Ashley was also the youngest woman inducted into the Circle of Honour at the Esquao Awards, which recognizes Indigenous female Leaders and Activists. Ashley also received a role model award from the United Nations for Global Dignity Day.
Ashley has graced the magazine covers of Fashion, Chatelaine, OptiMYz, Dress to Kill, Edify, Kind Magazine and has written for Flare Magazine. Ashley is also a spokesperson and model for Hillberg & Berk, RW&Co, Innisfree by Sephora, Dress For Success , Nintendo, Hello Fresh and Nike. This March, Ashley was announced as the first Indigenous First Nations woman to grace the pages of Sports Illustrated. Ashley also recently signed her first book deal with Harper Collins publishing and will be a published author in Fall 2023.
Ashley Callingbull
Alyssa Wapanatâhk is an actress, filmmaker, advocate, and Nêhiyaw Iskwew (Cree Woman) known for her recent roles in REHAB directed by Andrew Genaille and Bones Of Crows directed by Marie Clements. You are sure to be hearing much more about this young Cree actress, as she makes her feature film debut playing Tiger Lily in Disney’s upcoming “Peter Pan & Wendy,” directed by David Lowery. She is joining a cast that includes Jude Law as Captain Hook, Milla Jovovich’s daughter Ever Anderson as Wendy, and New Zealand newcomer Alexander Molnoy as Peter. She also directed, wrote and produced the film Napes-Kasêkipatwât/The Boy & The Braid with Telus StoryHive. Alyssa is from the Nehiyaw/Cree Tribe and is a proud member of the Bigstone Cree First Nation from the Treaty 8 Territory.
In 2020, Alyssa opted to change her name from Alook to Wapanatâhk, which was the name she was given at birth and translates to “first star in the sky” or “morning star.” She gave her daughter, who was born in spring 2019, the Cree name Wâpakwaniy, and wants to speak the language with her. “It feels very right to change my name to this now. I have so much love and respect for my culture and nehiyawewin, the Cree language,” she said. “It is a part of my goal in this world to bring our language back, and to learn it day by day.”
Much like her Disney character Tiger Lily, who is indigenous to Neverland with a bow at her back, serving as a protector lost children from the evil Hook, Alyssa also has a passion for protecting children. She uses her platform and voice to raise awareness about the atrocities" committed against children in Canada's residential school system through the "Every Child Matters" movement to honour the thousands of children who died in the federally funded, church-run boarding schools.
Alyssa Wapanatâhk
A full-blooded member of the Haliwa-Saponi tribe, Simpson grew up in Hollister, North Carolina , home to the small tribe of Haliwa-Saponi people. Her entire family still lives in this small town—a tight-knit community rich with tribal culture. Singing with her family in church since the age of seven, she has dedicated her life to music. "Our culture is filled with creativity. If you were to visit one of our annual pow-wows, and were to step into the arena and see the dances...see the drum groups...hear the beat in your heart...how hard they're beating the drums...see the vibrant colors of the dancers...the fringe, the bells, everything that they have taken so much meticulous time to hand bead...It's such a creative culture from the dancing to the music to the singing. All of that plays a role into the creativity that I bring on stage now."
From recording her first song at the age of two, to being a part of NBC’s The Voice and America's Got Talent, Brooke is no stranger to performing. She recently made her Broadway debut in the Diane Paulus revival of the Tony Award winning musical 1776, where she is portraying founding-father Roger Sherman.
"Of course, when I step on that stage I'm portraying Roger Sherman, but also because of the direction and the freedom that our incredible directors have given us, I'm also one hundred percent standing there as Brooke Simpson as well. I'm portraying this founding father, but I'm also representing myself and a history of people that already had a nation here before we ever needed to create one. It was something to kind of wrestle with thinking about my ancestors and what they had gone through, and then stepping into these shoes. But regardless of how sticky or uncomfortable our history may make us, I know that it's something that we can't ignore or stuff under the rug. As an artist I never just want to be a peacekeeper. I want to be a peace maker, and making peace and understanding, and bringing clarity and bringing unity, especially at a time such as this in our country...it requires some discomfort.” (adapted from Talaura Harms, Playbill, October 10, 2022).
brooke simpson
Major League Baseball Pitcher Brandon Bailey minored in Native American studies at Gonzaga, plans to learn the Chickasaw’s historic language, and speaks passionately about the dangers of forced cultural assimilation. A citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, Brandon seeks to keep his family heritage alive, while also trying to give back to the people who, over the course of time, were told their background was wrong.
His great-great-great-grandmother, Matahoya, walked the “Trail of Tears,” according to the family’s oral history. Her son, George, Bailey’s great-grandfather, was full-blooded Chickasaw, born, raised and Americanized in boarding schools on the tribe’s Oklahoma reservation. A World War II army veteran, George married outside the nation and moved the family to Colorado after his military service. “He did not want his children to grow up in the same scene as he did,” Bailey said. “After that, he never was the same, and he wanted to get away from that part of his life.”
Brandon hopes to use his baseball platform to become an advocate not only for native issues, but also to help other young native people struggling with the complexity of their identities. “I don’t even think I could put into words how much that would mean to us,” Brandon’s father said. “I think it gives him a sense of pride in who he is. Every time he goes on the mound, he wants to represent the Chickasaw.”
Adapted from Joe Trezza, Reporter, MLB.com
brandon bailey
Cody Coyote is a multi-award nominated, and award winning Hip-Hop/Electronic artist from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He is of Ojibwe/Irish descent with ancestry from Matachewan First Nation. Best known for his lyricism and mesmerizing performances, Cody uses his platform to address the challenges faced in the indigenous communities. Cody’s newest album ‘Passage’, released June of 2022, focuses on overcoming, persevering, and healing from intergenerational trauma.
“My hope is to showcase that Indigenous people are still here, that we are always going to be here and that it is also possible to heal, move forward and find passage through either direct or intergenerational trauma”.
With recognition for creating positive change in the world, this dedicated artist reached number 6 on the Indigenous Music Countdown with his song "There Tonight" in July 2022, number 7 with his song Helpless in February 2022 and number 1 with his song Manidoo Dewe’igan in January 2020.
Outside of music, Cody Coyote is also a motivational speaker, workshop facilitator and is the host of “The Beat” on elmnt fm owned and operated by First People’s Radio Inc. (Ottawa/Toronto).
“The community work I do is really what drives me and has allowed me to become passionate about initiating positive change in the world today. I want the future generations of this world to ultimately feel empowered and seen.”
Cody coyote
A Canadian First Nations actor and stuntman, Eugene Brave Rock is best known playing the Chief in "Wonder Woman." Raised in the Kainai Nation in southern Alberta, Brave Rock began acting as a teenager, making his debut at the age of 17. As an adult, he performed at Disneyland Paris as part of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, doing stunt horseback riding as well as participating in battlefield reenactments. He later did stunt work and performed projects as "Hell on Wheels" and "The Revenant.” After years of hard work, his breakthrough role as Chief, one of Wonder Woman's key allies as she fights in the World War I trenches, brought him new attention and wide acclaim. He was also given input into the character, speaking Blackfoot to Wonder Woman to introduce himself and consulting on the design of his costume. For Brave Rock, however, perhaps the greatest acclaim of all came after he returned home for a visit following the movie's successful release: he was honored with the gift of a full headdress by the Kainai Nation, and many children praised him as their new hero.
A proud Blackfoot born and raised in Blackfoot country, Eugene attended school in Cardston, Fort McLeod, Lethbridge, and Calgary. He hopes that his work will always bring light, respect and a greater understanding of his Blackfoot culture to people everywhere. He recently led the Oki Language Project, which involved collecting a library of Indigenous language greetings of Turtle Island and share Elder stories about the deep understanding of this meaningful act of welcoming another human being.
“In researching our language, I have come to know that the meaning of words could take days to explain. Everything in Blackfoot culture has its purpose, place and symbiotic rhythm giving it a sacredness so that it is not to be misused, abused or taken for granted. This is true for all Indigenous languages and it is important to educate and raise awareness for future generations.”
EUGENE BRAVE ROCK
A member of the Onondaga Nation, Lyle Thompson is a Nike Athlete, N7 Ambassador; Professional Lacrosse Player; 2x Tewaaraton Award Winner; US Sports Camps, TBL/Nike Director; Thompson Brothers Lacrosse; and Founder of the Thompson brothers’ 4 The Future Foundation.
Lyle’s professional lacross accolades are extensive: Iroquois Nationals, NLL MLL, MLL/NLL 1ST overall selection in 2016 drafts, 2017 NLL MVP, 2017 playoff 2017 NLL points leader, 2018-2019 lead league in goals, 2019, Coca Cola most Valuable Player, MLL Offensive Player of the Year. Internationally, Lyle is 2x FIL All-World Team, FIL U-19 Top Midfielder Award Winner, FIL All-World Attackman Selection, 3x All-World Team, 2x presidents cup winner, Presidents cup MVP, 2-time USLA Attackman of the year, NCAA Career points leader, NCAA single-season points leader
"I was born into this game. My father put a wooden lacrosse stick in my hands the day I was born, and my stick quickly became my best friend. I would sleep with it and touch it every day regardless of the elements. I was fortunate to grow up surrounded by competitive athletes every time I stepped out the back door. The opportunity to learn from my older brothers on and off the field has been what has made me who I am today. They were my teammates, competitors, and idols. I wanted the strength of Jeremy, to be as smooth as Hiana, and to have the brains of Miles, and I worked to make it happen by watching and listening, playing divisions above and sometimes three advanced levels. Playing at the U19 World Lacrosse Games was my biggest eye-opener, I was fifteen years old going up against nineteen-year-old men who had already played a year of D1 lacrosse. That was when I knew I wanted to play lacrosse at the highest level. Lacrosse has been a vehicle for me and continues to be. I believe I’ve been given the opportunity to make a difference, and I want to be able to impact others’ lives the way my brothers have impacted mine."
lyle thompson
Youngest of three daughters, Lauren Schad was born and raised in Paha Sapa (Black Hills) in Rapid City, South Dakota. She is a professional volleyball player and dedicates each match to a woman/child on the ongoing list of Missing Murdered and Indigenous women, baring their name on her hand.
As a University of San Diego recruit, Lauren helped lead the team to the NCAA Volleyball Tournament Sweet 16 as a freshman. Leading the Aztecs to the NCAA Tournament her sophomore and junior seasons, she was also selected to play with the US National Team in 2015 and as a senior she was named an AVCA All-American Honorable Mention.
Lauren carries her culture with her everywhere she goes—whether she is visiting her Lakota relatives in South Dakota, traveling overseas for work, or modeling, she makes a point of using her platform as an athlete to raise awareness on the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and to educate others about Indigenous people, eradicating stereotypes one spike at a time.
LAUREN SCHAD
Michael Linklater established himself as one of the FIBA 3x3 World’s top professional basketball players. He is a proud Nehiyaw (Cree) descending from the Thunderchild First Nation, located in Treaty 6 Territory.
He understands the importance of representing his culture everywhere, and aims to instill that same pride in other young Indigenous men. As a kid, he was bullied for his braids, so when his sons suffered the same treatment, he started the international movement called “Boys with Braids” to encourage Indigenous youth to continue growing their hair and to educate the general public about the cultural significance of long hair for Indigenous men.
Winner of numerous awards as an advocate for Indigenous youth and for his community involvement, Michael has been honored by Indspire, 3x3 World Tour Most Spectacular Player, the Saskatchewan CBC future 40 under 40, the Chief of Police award for community service, and the Circle of Honour award. He is the 2018 winner of the Tom Longboat award which recognizes Aboriginal athletes “for their outstanding contributions to sport in Canada.” In November 2022 Michael will be inducted into the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame.
“Our culture and spirituality provides us with the foundation needed to project ourselves into the world and become the best people we can be – in all aspects of life.”
MICHAEL LINKLATER
Neilson is of Native American ancestry on his father Jack’s side. Jack’s mother is of Cherokee descent and his father Matthew is a member of the Oneida Nation. He burst onto the United States road racing scene as a 19-year-old and found instant success, finishing ninth overall at the 2016 Amgen Tour of California and winning a stage at the Tour de l’Avenir. Those results shot him to the WorldTour where his adaptability accelerated his learning curve.
Neilson’s success resulted in his being recruited for EF Pro Cycling (now known as EF Education-Nippo), an American professional cycling team. It was as a cyclist for this team that Powless both realized his childhood dream of competing in the Tour de France and achieved a historic breakthrough for Native Americans in that longstanding annual athletic event. In the Final Young Rider Classification for the 2020 Tour de France, Powless emerged as the highest-ranking American and finished ninth overall; EF Pro Cycling finished fourth overall in the Final Team Classification for that year’s race.
“You can’t really force anything, it really just has to be something you really want to do and pursue,” said Powless while discussing his enthusiasm for cycling in a 2016 Oneida Nation News interview. “If you don’t really love something it’s going to be pretty hard to be successful at it . . . I’m so successful with cycling [because] I love being on my bike and I like the places it takes me.”
Neilson Powless
Sarain is Anishinaabe from Batchawana First Nation, just outside of Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario. She is passionate about empowering Indigenous communities and amplifying their voices, especially those of the youth. She is a multifaceted artist and activist who comes from a long line of storytellers. Her mother and great aunt are the oral record keepers of the family. They have passed down ancient teachings from generations of knowledge-keepers and have raised her to be proud of her Indigenous roots. As a result, Sarain has become a powerful and vibrant voice for the Indigenous community.
She is a dancer, choreographer, stylist, activist, brand ambassador, television host and content producer. A storyteller at heart, Sarain has combined these various mediums to create a compelling social platform for amplifying the voices of her people. She uses her platform to celebrate the immense knowledge and talent of Indigenous people, designers and brands.
Sarain’s screen highlights include the award-winning series, RISE (Viceland), Cut-off (Viceland) and APTN’s Future History. In fashion, Sarain has lent her voice to international brands such as Sephora, Canada Goose, Nike N7 and Manitobah Mukluks. She sees each partnership and campaign as an opportunity to highlight her culture in the mainstream, share the stage with up-and-coming Indigenous talent and change the world for her people.
PHOTO CREDIT: Christie Vuong
SARAIN FOX
Rob canton
Executive Director
Serving on the board of JDRF Tampa Bay, and co-chair of its two most successful annual fundraising galas, Rob first developed Athletes+Causes as a way to further bring attention to and raise money towards finding a cure for Juvenile Diabetes. He enlisted the support of others in the sports industry affected by Type 1 Diabetes, including Tampa Bay Lightning Forward BJ Crombeen, Rays Outfielder Sam Fuld, and Buccaneers Tight End Tom Crabtree and in January 2014 hosted the first Athletes+Causes event in the Chase Club of Amalie Arena. Sponsors and individuals took advantage of the opportunity to mix and mingle not only with the three professional sports hosts, but with the dozens of fellow Lightning, Rays, and Bucs players that showed up to support their teammates.
Having spent 25-years conducting strategic and economic analyses within the sports industry, Rob has worked with hundreds of teams, destinations, and developers representing a multitude of initiatives including development, transactions, performance improvement, project feasibility, and strategic planning.
Rob previously served as Executive Vice President of Finance and Strategic Planning for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Prior to his work for the Lightning, he consulted on projects across the country involving the New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Denver Broncos, Miami Heat, San Diego Padres, Oakland Raiders, Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta Falcons, Washington Nationals, and dozens of other professional sports teams. He has also consulted on sports projects for Louisiana State University, the University of Oklahoma, Duke University, University of North Carolina, North Carolina State University, Texas Tech, The Ohio State University, University of Pittsburgh, and University of Louisville.