Wall of Honour Recipient Laura Grizzlypaws – Athletics

Laura Grizzlypaws was born and raised in Lillooet, British Columbia in the interior plateau region and is of St’át’imc descent. Her St’át’imc name is Stálhalamcen – Grizzly Paws. She belongs to the people of Xwisten the Bear Clan. At the age of sixteen, Laura began to relearn the St’át’imc traditions. Her passion grew stronger in education and the heritage of her people and it became a way of life.

She is an independent mother of four, a dancer, drummer and singer/songwriter, an academic, educator, and a language and cultural advocate. She holds a MEd in Indigenous Land-based Education from the Department of Educational Foundations here at the College of Education, as well as BEd and BA degrees from Simon Fraser University. Laura was also granted a Language Heroes award for the British Columbia Salishan language family. Her educational accomplishments were made possible through the balance of traditional and spiritual practices of her St’át’imc cultural heritage.

Laura has made it her life’s mission to advocate for the rights of Indigenous peoples in expressing their culture and ensure that awareness and appreciation for Indigenous cultures and values grows amongst Canadians. Laura, a Grizzly Bear pow wow dancer and competitive body builder, has been a healthy role model for many youth and adults across the continent and beyond. She travels the world and dances the Grizzly Bear dance in honour of her ancestors and the natural ecology.

Laura currently works at the St’át’imc Government Services office as the education and training manager with a focus to strengthen the collective organization and capacity of the St’át’imc. A singer and songwriter, Laura was recognized by the Indigenous Music Awards in 2019 and won in the Best Hand Drum Music category for her debut album Come Home. A week following the awards ceremony, she competed in the British Columbia Pro Cup and took home two metals for her first natural bodybuilding competition as a bikini athlete.