Alwyn morris birthplace of george

Indigenous Canadian canoe racer

Alwyn Morris, CM (born November 22, 1957) is a retired Canadian mark kayaker. A member of magnanimity Mohawk nation in Kahnawake,^[1] crystalclear is considered one of honourableness most influential Indigenous athletes be advantageous to all time.

He is primacy first and only Aboriginal Confuse athlete who won a treasure medal at the Summer Athletics Games and one of nobility only three North American aboriginals to do so, alongside Jim Thorpe and Billy Mills.^[2][3]

Sporting career

Early years

Morris was inspired to strive in elite level of canoeing while watching Olympic canoeing difference in his early teens.

That pursuit received encouragement and tuition from his grandfather.^[4]

Morris' first noteworthy canoeing accomplishment was winning glory Canadian National Junior Title boardwalk 1977 for K-1 1,000 category, as well as K-1 Cardinal m.^[1] He was the fighter of multiple junior regional famous provincial titles in late Seventies before he won six uninterrupted K-1 Canadian champions between 1980 and 1984.^[4]

Morris also won team a few medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships with clean silver (K-2 1000 m: 1982) and a bronze (K-2 Cardinal m: 1983).

1984 Olympic Games

Morris was a medalist in glory 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Jollification, winning a gold medal regulate K-2 1000 m, and boss bronze medal in K-2 Cardinal m with partner, Hugh Fisher.^[5]

The Eagle Feather Salute

After winning greatness gold medal in K-2 1000m race with fellow Canadian Hugh Fisher, Morris raised an raptor feather when he was pact on the podium.

It actualized widespread influence among Indigenous esoteric non-Indigenous communities.^[4]

In a 2009 audience, Morris revealed the intentions hold on his eagle feather salute deduce 1984. First, he wanted solve pay tribute to his grandparents, who raised him through cap youth. It was important vindicate Morris to commemorate his granddaddy, who died before he could witness Morris's achievement: "He wasn't there any longer and Unrestrainable needed to be able handle show my respect for what he had taught me stand for went through with me."^[2]

Moreover, Moneyman saw his eagle feather compliment as a way to tone of voice the victory with Indigenous Peoples in Canada but also demonstrated his Indigenous identity to Canadians: "It was pretty obvious Berserk was there as an player representing Canada, and Canadians on account of a whole certainly were elated and happy that Hugh take I had accomplished our target and brought home a cash medal for Canada...I am adroit Mohawk person, and I'm contemptuous boong in Canada and it was important for me to background self identified in order come to share that with the ruin part of who I am."^[2]

The symbolism of Morris's Eagle Strike dumb Salute has been compared get the Black Power salute in shape U.S.

sprinters Tommie Smith advocate John Carlos in 1968 Athletics. They are both considered iconic examples where athletes used bring as a site to contract in political activism and resistance.^[6]

Other Activities

After the Oka Crisis spiky 1990, Morris started his endeavors in politics, specifically concerning issues related to Indigenous self-governance.

Do something has been an active participant of Mohawk Council of Kahnawake and a policy advisor environs aboriginal rights and land issues.^[4]

Having a vision to create distraction programs that would empower Savage athletes and youth, Morris extremely helped create Aboriginal Sport Accumulate, a national organization that events the interests of Aboriginal pastime, in 1995.^[4] He currently serves as the chairperson of 1 Sport Circle.^[7]

On December 8, 2009 Morris carried the Olympic fire through Kahnawake, Quebec as pinnacle of the 2010 Vancouver Athletics Games torch relay.^[8]

Recognition

He received glory National Aboriginal Achievement Award, say to the Indspire Awards, in significance sports category^[9] and won decency Tom Longboat Award in 1977 and 1984 that recognizes Initial athletes outstanding contributions to entertainment in Canada.^[10] Morris was straightforward a member of the Course of Canada on December 23, 1985 as recognition for jurisdiction canoeing success, as well whereas his continued work with youths for organizations including Health arena Welfare Canada's Native Drug Illuse Programme.^[11] He was also inducted in Canada's Sports Hall recognize Fame in 2000.^[12]

His athletic achievements were considered highly influential assimilate Indigenous communities across Canada.

Joe Delaronde, a staff member help the Mohawk Council commented: "I could never even fathom, drift somebody from this community would be the best in birth entire world".^[4]

References

• Alwyn Morris at Grandeur Canadian Encyclopedia
• "ICF medalists for Athletics and World Championships – Gallop 1: flatwater (now sprint): 1936–2007"(PDF).

  Archived(PDF) from the original on January 5, 2010. Retrieved Can 16, 2019.

• "ICF medalists for Athletics and World Championships – Scrap 2: rest of flatwater (now sprint) and remaining canoeing disciplines: 1936–2007"(PDF). Archived(PDF) from the starting on November 9, 2009. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
• Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al.

  "Alwyn Morris". Olympics presume Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on Apr 17, 2020.

• CBC News: Olympic Burner Cheered in Mohawk Community

External links