Sask Sport mourns the loss of former Indigenous Sport Leadership Council member Louis Gardiner.

For decades Gardiner was a dedicated voice and advocate for the Métis community. As an Île-à-la-Crosse residential school survivor, Gardiner helped lead the fight for recognition and compensation for other survivors, with his contributions assisting in reaching a settlement in recent months.

From 2007-2023, Gardiner was a member of the Indigenous Sport Leadership Council and served in various roles with the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan, including as provincial treasurer, representative for the northern region and minister responsible for sport and youth.

Throughout his life, Gardiner nurtured his personal love of sports, which included playing junior hockey with the Flin Flon Bombers and being a proponent of Indigenous sport.