Tom Longboat was an Onondaga long-distance runner whose name, Gagwe:gih, meant “Everything.” Running away from the Mohawk Institute Residential School in Brantford, Ontario in 1900, he continued running his whole life. Despite the racism he faced as an Indigenous athlete, Tom won many races, including his record-breaking win at the 1907 Boston Marathon, making him a household name. As the story goes, while serving as a Dispatch Carrier during the First World War, an Officer he was escorting struggled to keep up and complained, “Who do you think I am? Tom Longboat?”—Tom replied, “No, Sir… I am” and continued to run. Tom Longboat was one of the most celebrated athletes of the early 20th century and has inspired generations of athletes.

For more information on Tom Longboat, Visit The Canadian Encyclopedia.

In 1942, after Canada declared war on Japan, 22,000 Japanese Canadians were interned in the interior of BC, including the Asahi players.

For more information about the Vancouver Asahi, please visit The Canadian Encyclopedia

Thanks to SIM International for their sponsorship of this Heritage Minute.

They would go on to become the most successful team in Canadian sports history.

For more information about the Edmonton Grads visit The Canadian Encyclopedia.

Archival photos courtesy of the Provincial Archives of Alberta.

For more information about Terry Fox visit The Canadian Encyclopedia.

For more information about the Winnipeg Falcons visit The Canadian Encyclopedia.

For more information about Jackie Robinson visit The Canadian Encyclopedia.

For more information about Maple Leaf Gardens visit The Canadian Encyclopedia.

For more information about the Bluenose visit The Canadian Encyclopedia.

For more information about basketball visit The Canadian Encyclopedia.

For more information about the Paris Crew visit The Canadian Encyclopedia.