By Andrew Breaker
Jason Bishop is the founder of I.S.H.O.W, which stands for Indigenous Shooting Hoops on Wheels. Through this inspiring program, Jason travels to various communities and settlements across Alberta—including places like Crowfoot Elementary School—to introduce and promote adaptive sports, with a primary focus on wheelchair basketball.
I.S.H.O.W is more than just a demonstration. It serves as a recruitment platform to identify potential Indigenous athletes interested in competing on an all-Indigenous wheelchair basketball team. The vision is for this team to travel across Alberta and potentially represent Indigenous talent throughout Canada and even North America.
The program was born out of Jason’s personal journey. After undergoing surgery for a right knee amputation and facing challenges as a transplant patient, Jason found it difficult to return to the workforce or participate in his former sport of swimming due to ongoing healing. Seeking a new path, he turned to wheelchair basketball—a sport he has now embraced for the past three years.
“It’s an excellent showcase program,” Jason shared. “It helps kids develop empathy for those around them, and also provides an outlet for students and community members living with physical disabilities. It brings people together—families, siblings, and entire communities—to support and uplift those who are differently abled.”
Jason Bishop’s story and the I.S.H.O.W program are a testament to resilience, inclusion, and the power of sport to unite and empower communities.
