Barry Bernard

Barry Bernard from We’koqmaq First Nation started his boxing career at the age of 13. He turned to coaching and promoting boxing and in 2001, he was appointed to the Nova Scotia Professional Combat Sports Authority. He also has officiated numerous boxing events from Pro Am showcases to amateur cards.

In 2015, he had a dream off starting a Mikmaw Boxing Team and then Red Tribe Boxing Club came to life and first emerged in Eskasoni. Since then, the club has hosted 16 local boxing cards to date. Barry has taken Mikmaw boxers from Red Tribe to Jamaica and the United States and Ontario, where several Mi’kmaq boxers won gold and silver medals in their respective weight categories. Barry has helped to certify over 20 Mi’kmaw coaches in Nova Scotia, and is proud to include Mi’kmaq officials in his events.

In 2020, Barry built a new building from the ground up for the Red Tribe Boxing Club where all the boxers call home. More than 200 youth have come through the doors from all over Mi’kma’ki. As Red Tribe Boxing continues to grow where so many male and female youth learn the discipline of boxing.

In 2020, Barry played an integral part in supporting one of his boxers in their recognition as female boxer of the year for Nova Scotia. In 2023, that same boxer was the first Indigenous woman to fight in the main event of a card held in Cape Breton, at Center 200 in Sydney.

When you hear boxing, all you think about is Barry Bernard and Red Tribe Boxing