Blood Tribe man following in Terry Fox’s shoes during cross-country run for Indigenous issues – Lethbridge | 24CA News
On April 12, 1980 Terry Fox dipped his prosthetic leg within the Atlantic Ocean to start his Marathon of Hope to lift assist for most cancers analysis.
Exactly 43 years later, a southern Alberta man has launched into the same journey with the purpose of bringing consciousness to points affecting Indigenous Peoples throughout Canada.
Staamiiksoosaak (Johnny Bare Shin Bone) stated Fox is his “hero,” and he has been an avid runner for many years, specializing in 10-km highway races.
Around 4 years in the past, he was in British Columbia when he had a reoccurring dream of a Newfoundland highway signal.
“Why am I in Vancouver on the West Coast, and my spirit was way over on the East Coast, St. John’s Newfoundland?” he requested.
After some consideration and looking for a purpose, he determined he would run throughout the nation to assist Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, the opioid drug disaster, residential faculty survivors, and land acknowledgment.
“That’s the main reason why I want to run this. I want to fulfill it.”
With assist from household, pals and the neighborhood, Staamiiksoosaak arrived this week on the East Coast geared up with an RV and loads of additional trainers.
The crew is operating in a relay type. Staamiiksoosaak can be joined by his grandsons and daughter.
“I’m just going to run in the mornings, about four hours in the mornings,” he defined.
The day began with a pipe ceremony, earlier than setting off on a relay-style run with members of the Mi’kmaq First Nation.
Back dwelling in Stand Off, Alta., members of the neighborhood — together with representatives from chief and council and the well being division — gathered to point out their assist.
“It just feels surreal because we never thought that it would actually happen,” stated organizer Andrew Many Bears.
“We wanted to let them know that our tribe is here for you and we thought that we could put up a rally for them just to inspire them.”
The group can be sharing their journey on Facebook, and expects to reach in Victoria, B.C. this August. They are encouraging each Indigenous and non-Indigenous members of the general public to hitch them.
“This is a healing run, and we are here to heal. Not only our people, but all throughout the land,” added Staamiiksoosaak’s daughter Lurlene Bare Shin Bone.
Staamiiksoosaak informed Global News he is similar age as Terry Fox — each males had been born in the summertime of 1958.
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