Swan Lake First Nation teen excels at archery in Manitoba as she connects with culture - Action News
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Indigenous

Swan Lake First Nation teen excels at archery in Manitoba as she connects with culture

Waasayah Munro-Soldier, 13, is Archery Manitoba's 2021 Female 3D Archer of the Year. She is excited to continue on with the sport and to eventually go hunting with her skills.

Hopes for bigger tournaments in male-dominated sport, real hunting experience

Swan Lake First Nation teen excels at archery, connects with culture

2 years ago
Duration 2:17
In a sport usually dominated by men, 13-year-old Waasayah Munro-Soldier, from Swan Lake First Nation in Manitoba, excels at archery. Now, she's set her sights on hunting with a bow and arrow something that will connect her to traditional Indigenous values and practices.

In a sport usually dominated by men,13-year-old Waasayah Munro-Soldierexcels at archery. Now, she's set her sights on huntingwith a bow and arrow something that will connect her to traditional Indigenous values and practices.

When Waasayah first heard about archery, the member of Swan Lake First Nation in Manitobasays she didn't realize it was an actual sport. She was initially intrigued by archery hunting videos that she saw online.

"When I was first thinking about archery, I guess I started growing into it, like naturally, and started getting into it more," she said. "When I started learning archery, I guess I started connecting [with]my ancestors, like when they shot bows and arrows, ... made out of wood and made arrows out of sticks."

Waasayah Munro-Soldier, 13, was named Archery Manitoba's 2021 3D Female Archer of the Year. The member of Swan Lake First Nation who lives in Winnipeg is the only female on her 3D archery team. (Reil Munro)

Waasayah, a resident of Winnipeg,started taking archery lessons in the city when she was just 10years old. Her first competition was a provincialtournament, andshe ended up taking home medals for her prowess.

Now,she'sthe only female on her 3D archery team.

3D archery differs from regular archery in that there's an object to aim at, instead of just a targeted bull's-eye.

Though Waasayah says it's strange to be the only female on her team, she enjoys shooting with her teammates and aiming at the different 3D foam animals. Shealso mentored a boy her age on the sport.

Waasayah, in yellow, says she enjoys shooting with her teammates and aiming at 3D foam animals. 3D archery differs from regular archery in that there's an object to aim at, instead of just a targeted bull's-eye. (Reil Munro)

"I taught him some techniquesand some advice," she said. "And [how] to adjust your grip, your anchor, all that stuff."

The Grade 8 student says she enjoystournaments and is training in hopes of attendingthe North American Indigenous Games in Halifax in the summer of 2023.

A connection to culture

Waasayah's dad, Reil Munro, says shehasreally taken off with the sport, but it began out of a different interest.

"The real interesting thing for us was that, when she first came to us and wanted to be an archer, her first words were that she wanted to be a hunter-gatherer," Munro said.

"And then I asked how she wanted to harvest, and she said with a bow and arrow."

Reil Munro, Waasayah's dad, says her interest in archery came from a desire to be a hunter-gatherer. Munro says the family is proud not only of Waasayah's accomplishments but of how she is true to herself within the sport. 'She's out there representing ... who she is as an Indigenous person,' he says. (Gary Solilak/CBC)

Munro says his daughter's accomplishments so far have made the family proud.

"When she first started, here was this, you know, smallIndigenous girl, [with] braids, and competing against a bunch of men," he said.

Munro says Waasayah has also competed at powwows since she was a toddler and has always had a competitive spirit.The family tries to encourage other families to consider the sport of archery.

"There's a lot of benefits to archery," Munro said. "It helps with her focus. Also some of the teachings, you know, in Indigenous culture she practises with it, you know, about respect.... She has to respect what she's trying to harvest. So if she can respect the tools of it, it'll help her respect the execution of those tools for proper harvesting."

Munro says the family is proud not only of Waasayah's accomplishmentsbut of how she is true to herself within the sport.

"She loves being out thereand loves representing," he said. "That's another thing that she'll do: She's out there representing ... who she is as an Indigenous person. She has beadwork on her quiver and things like that, and people know when she shows up that she's an Indigenous archer as well."

Munro says that when it comes to his daughter's progress and the end goal of becoming a hunter, there's no rush especiallygiven her young age. He encourages her to enjoy the process, no matter what.

Waasayah, whois enjoying more success in the sport this year, was chosen as the 2021 Female 3D Archer of the Year by Archery Manitoba.

Waasayah is training in hopes of attending the North American Indigenous Games in Halifax in the summer of 2023 and the 2025 World Archery Youth Championships, which will be held in Winnipeg. (Gary Solilak/CBC)

Dan Hudson of Archery Manitoba, her3D provincial team coach, says the award is well deserved.

"She works really hard," he said. "She takes in criticism very well. She's come a long way. She's got more to grow, but she's easy to coach and easy to teach."

Aside from her scores, Hudson says Waasayah is a personable team member who is a lot of fun to coach.

"I hope she continues on with archery," he said. "Hopefully we'll see a lot more things from her in the future."

Waasayah is also training to compete at the 2025 World Archery Youth Championships, which will be held in Winnipeg.

She says she feels really good about her accomplishments to this pointand was both happy and shocked to be chosen for the female archer of the year award.