He won the Silver medal at the 1999 Pan Am Games for boxing, he's the #1 Amateur in Canada, and he's on a mission to make the 2000 Olympics in Sydney Australia.  At only 19 years old, Dana Laframboise is ready to take on the world.

Exclusive Report by Chris Tyrone Ross

Dana Laframboise is not a person to be underestimated.  He is a champion, a winner, and proud of his native heritage, he wants to rise in the world of boxing and become the best native athlete he can.  He wants to be a great role model for native youth, he wants to bring the status quo of native athletes to another level, and he wants to win gold at the 2000 Olympics.

"I really want to prove people wrong that I can compete on another level as an Olympic athlete", says Dana Laframboise.  "I believe I have an obligation to fill which is to make my people proud, I think that I' am a role model and I want to thank the people for all the support they have given me."  Such people like Eugene Arcand from  S.I.G.A. (Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority) have supported Dana to the fullest, S.I.G.A. has sponsored such trips to the Pan Am Games and Cambell River, BC where he participated in the Nationals for a spot on the Canadian  Olympic team.

After Christmas, Dana is planning on moving to Windsor, Ontario where he will train one month before the 'Box Off' which are the final qualifications for Canada.  The 'Box Off' will take place in St. Catherines, Ontario, Dana must make the top 8 in order to make the Canadian Olympic team, and if he does, his training will be much more extensive than his usual daily work out.

Dana is a young man with many achievements, he has taken gold at every single Indigenous games since 1993, he also took Bronze at the 1996 World Junior Olympics, but his most astounding achievements came when he won the silver medal at the 1999 Pan Am Games in Winnipeg, Manitoba.  His next goal he hopes to achieve is to become the first native boxer to win a gold medal at the Olympics.

If you compare Dana to someone like Alika Lafontaine (see Pg. 23)  you'll see that Dana is more aggressive with his boxing, where as Alika is more concentrated with his studies.   Alika was last years 'Youth Recipient' at the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards, and insiders say, Dana could very well win this years most prestigious youth award, because of his drive for the Olympics.

To find out why Dana is so successful at boxing, you have to go back to his childhood.  Dana was born on April 25, 1980 to Les Laframboise, and Tina La Rose.  He was the second child to a family of five.  When he started boxing he was only ten years old, him and his brother Jesse used to always fight until there father, Les decided to turn his boys into boxers.  He bought them each gloves, and whenever Dana and Jesse had a beef, they would have to settle it in the basement.   Ever since then Dana and Jesse have learned to stay away from the drugs and alcohol, and lead positive lifestyles with boxing.

Jesses' time will come, but right now, it's now Dana's turn to prove the people wrong, and if you don't think so, you better keep your distance.  His father, Les Laframboise is Dana's personal trainer, his mother, Tina La Rose, is probably the proudest mother on earth.

She calls Dana "The Gentlemen of the Ring" and anything that Dana does, she supports him in the best way she can.  Any mother would be proud to have a son like Dana , a son "who strives to make his people and his country proud for his accomplishments."

Morely Watson, first vie-chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations says that, "Dana has not only dedicated himself to be a great boxer, but more importantly an honourable young man that we are truly proud of.  In discussions with him, he places great emphasis on his continuing education."

Dana graduated this past year from Miller Collegiate High School in Regina, his hopes for a career include being a social worker, so he can help his people.    "Growing up there were so many people on social assistance and so many people living negative lifestyles, after boxing and University, I want to pursue this career because it would be my way of contributing to my people," says Dana.

"My belief is that you can achieve whatever you want to achieve if you set your mind to it" explains Dana "All it takes is action!"

After losing the gold medal at the 1999 Pan Am Games, Dana helped the Cuban raise his country's flag, and with his other hand he raised his Eagle feather just as high.  It was a moment not to be forgotten it was similar to when the Meech Lake Accord was lost to one man, Elijah Harper, a first nations MLA.  When Elijah Harper opposed to the decision, he raised his Eagle feather, high and mighty with pride, just like Dana Laframboise did when he won the silver medal.

"That was one of the best days of my life" explains Dana Laframboise "but I still should have won Gold, today I'm still disappointed, but it's all good."