Move to Kelowna keeps paying off for Northern teen
A teen who moved to West Kelowna from Rankin Inlet for sports and education has won a major scholarship.
Danica Taylor, 18, is one of 20 recipients of the $10,000 per year (for up to four years) RBC Indigenous Youth Scholarship.
Close to 800 Indigenous youth from across Canada were considered for the annual award, which is now in its 30th year and recognizes both strong academic performance and community involvement. The award is designed to help reduce the barriers to postsecondary education and training for Canadian Indigenous youth.
Taylor moved to the Okanagan in 2021 to attend the Canadian Sport School Kelowna and play soccer for the Kelowna United Jr. Heat.
Graduating this month, Taylor will use the scholarship to pursue postsecondary education.
“With this scholarship, I’m able to better prepare myself for this coming fall,” said Taylor. “I’m grateful that I have been given a chance to show Northern Indigenous youth that anything is possible, as long as you’re dedicated and committed to what you do. This is something I try to remember when playing soccer and living so far from home,” she said in a statement.
In addition to her commitment to high performance soccer, Taylor served as a traditional Dene Games instructor with the Aboriginal Sports Circle NWT, and served as Youth Engagement Coordinator for the Communities Building Youth Futures Yellowknife project.
“Eventually I want to return to the North and work in our communities, whether that is environmentfocused or community-focused,” said Taylor, who lived in Yellowknife before moving to Kelowna. “I see so much potential in Northern youth and I will one day create a non-profit organization that empowers youth to do what they love. I also want to be a role model for fellow Inuit to look up to and show them that there is so much in life to live for.”
Wanda Wuttunee, Editor in Chief, Journal of Aboriginal Economic Development and retired professor at the University of Manitoba, is on the steering committee for the award.
“Indigenous young people are sometimes faced with roadblocks to success in the education system, so having a program that alleviates financial stress, champions their accomplishments and supports wellbeing is so important,” said Wuttunee.