Olympic bobsledder Eden Wilson aims to ‘help open doors’ for aspiring Indigenous athletes

Reflecting back on becoming the first Indigenous bobsledder to represent “Canada” in the Olympics, Eden Wilson hopes she can inspire more young people to enter the sport.

“Representation is huge,” said Wilson, who competed with Team Canada in the 2026 Winter Milano Cortino Olympics.

“If even one kid sees me moving through sport and thinks ‘maybe I could do that too,’ then that is mission accomplished.”

Wilson, whose ancestry is Métis, Black and European, joined the Canadian National Bobsleigh Team in 2020. Ever since, she has become an advocate and mentor for young aspiring athletes — encouraging them to set goals and believe in themselves.

“If there’s no spot at the proverbial table for you, roll up your sleeves and build a new table,” she said, “because you deserve to be seen and heard.”

In late May, Wilson officially became one of the inductees to the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame (NAIAHF) during a ceremony in “Wisconsin.”

“Honestly, it’s pretty surreal. I don’t think I’ve really processed it yet,” she said about receiving the honour. “It means a lot, especially being recognized within the Indigenous community. That part feels really special. I’m just generally very, very honoured.”

Co-founded by Dan and Susan Ninham, the Hall of Fame was established in 2022 to recognize Indigenous athletes, coaches, and teams from across the continent. 

“We wanted to find a way to honour outstanding athletes not only at the local level but at the broader national and international levels,” said Dan Ninham, an Onieda Nation member from “Wisconsin.” 

“There was a gap in recognizing these contributions, so we decided to fill it.”

The Hall of Fame embraces a spectrum of categories, including not just athletes like Wilson but coaches, media and officials. 

“We induct living individuals as well as honour those who has passed away by connecting with their descendants,” Dan added. 

“This year alone, we inducted 327 individuals, highlighting the rich history of Indigenous excellence in sports.”

Along with Wilson — who lives in “Calgary” and was born in Manitoba — “Canadian” athletes inducted this year include Kitigan Zibi hockey player Gino Odjick and Six Nations lacrosse pioneer Duane Jacobs. 

“We’re not just looking at athletes, we also honour the coaches and the behind-the-scenes individuals who contribute to their success,” explained Susan Ninham, who is from the Red Lake Nation. 

“It’s vital to recognize the entire community that supports athletic excellence. Sports can open up so many more opportunities for our young people.”

For Wilson, that mission is close to home. She works with the non-profit organization KidSport, which works to remove financial barriers for kids entering the world of organized sports. 

She also regularly speaks in schools as a Classroom Champions mentor and works as an RBC Olympian Ambassador, which includes visiting remote communities to find and inspire young people who might not have the same access to sports as others in larger urban areas.

“KidSport Calgary is huge for me. The impact that small team has on our community is incredible,” she said. “In 2025 alone, we helped over 10,000 kids into sport through registration fee assistance.

Recently, Wilson completed a beaded helmet, a project that she describes as both labour-intensive and deeply meaningful. “This one is probably the last one for a while — my fingers hurt,” she shared on her Instagram, reflecting on the thousands of beads and 28 hours she dedicated to this piece. 

“This one was all about movement and flow, from the mountains lining the front to the fluidity of the pattern.”

Wilson said she hopes to donate $10 to the Canadian Athletes Now Fund for every hour spent working on the helmet.

When it comes to the sport of bobsleigh, Wilson acknowledges its “wild” nature. She first got involved when she was in university, and quickly fell in love with it.

In the 2025/26 circuit, Wilson competed in various competitions, including a first place finish at the North American Cup in “Park City,” second and third place finishes at the North American Cup in “Lake Placid” and served as an official team alternate for the women’s team at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

The sport involves hurtling down a narrow, icy track in a high-speed sled, navigating sharp turns while hitting extreme speeds.

“It’s fast and loud and you’re pulling pretty crazy G-forces — up to six on some tracks,” she said.

“It’s a really big impact on the body, you have to be very explosive and dynamic at the start and then basically get kicked off a hill in a glorified garbage can.”

Wilson said her mixed background has “shaped how I move through the world day to day,” and it’s important to her to use her position to open doors for the next generation of athletes.

“I want to leave the sport a little better than I found it,” she said. “If I can help open doors, make things a bit easier for the next generation coming up, and show that you can do great things, no matter your background, that’s the legacy I care about most.”