Fans of the sport of curling in the NWT, or even those who aren’t, will no doubt recognize the name Kerry Galusha.
Having achieved a celebrated and successful career on the ice over almost four decades, Galusha has represented the NWT in 21 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, the Canadian women’s curling championship, and twice in the Arctic Winter Games.
In 2023, she was inducted into the Governor General’s Curling Club, becoming the first Indigenous woman to be given the prestigious honour and only the second person from the NWT.
Born in Yellowknife, Galusha, who’s of Gwich’in descent and whose family has roots in the Beaufort Delta, first started curling in Grade 6, joining her parents and brothers, all avid curlers.
She also teaches the sport at the Yellowknife Curling Centre.
Her dedication to the sport has gained many admirers and has also helped many youth develop skills and enjoyment for the game known as “chess on ice.”
She hosts the ‘Girls Rock’ curling event and has become a role model for young girls in the curling arena.
Yet for the longest time, Galusha was always referred to as the sister of either Kevin or Jamie Koe, and not as someone who has achieved national recognition in her own right.
“It used to bother me all the time. I was just known as their sister instead of being Kerry,” Galusha said.
Such a distinction may seem minor, but it is one of the many challenges women have continually faced in not only the world of sports, but in many aspects of their lives — the lack of recognition for their own achievements.
Wise investment
Today, March 8, is International Women’s Day and this year’s theme, ‘Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress,’ highlights the reminder that achieving gender equality is necessary for inclusion, yet it is one that continues to face barriers.
Although Galusha said she is now recognized independently for her contributions to curling, another area where women in sports traditionally have not been equally recognized is in the financial compensation they receive for winning or participating in competitions.
“As I got older, I quickly learned that it was truly like any other sport, and that the men made more money curling. It was bigger and better for the men,” she said, adding that more recently, Curling Canada began ensuring equal compensation in competition.
“Curling has come a long way and it’s very equal now, which is very good to see,” she said.
In terms of participation, Galusha said curling is “one of the better sports” and Canada has now invested in female sports.
She recalled a few years ago when her team was invited to speak at the Department of National Defence International Women’s Day event, where they discussed empowering women and Indigenous youth in the North.
“I think for youth in the North, it’s tough to live up here and to excel in sport, whether it’s curling or whatever,” she said. “It takes a lot of hard work and it takes a lot of support, and if you don’t have that support, it’s just not going to happen.”
Galusha said she hopes that when a little girl in a Northern community sees the NWT curling team broadcast on TSN, that she feels empowered knowing that they, too, are from the territory.
For girls especially, she said so much self-confidence can be gained, which can then carry them through tough times and harsh winters, through good times and bad times.
“I can only hope that every little girl in the North has something to dream about. I hope I can be that role model for us. Going to the curling club, starting to curl, or do a certain kind of sport, and just dream big.”
Galusha said overall, International Women’s Day is an important way to acknowledge women.
“Women across the country and the world, we can be very powerful and we can use our voices to speak up when we need to and use our voices for good things.”