Heather Wildeman

This #HeritageMinute follows the life of Onondaga long-distance runner Gagwe:gih, whose name means “Everything.” Known around the world as Tom Longboat, he was one of the most celebrated athletes of the early 20th century.

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Version française : youtu.be/aYmRKPv0XGk

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.

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For more information about Tom Longboat:

www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/tom-longboat

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Credits:

Adult Tom Longboat - Joshua Odjick

Young Tom Longboat - Sladen Peltier

Voice of Tom Longboat - Gary Farmer

Narrator – Cindy Martin

Director – Jason Brennan

Director of Photography – John Ashmore

Editor – Chris Coote

Composer – Nigel Irwin

Written by – Jessie Anthony

Story Editor – Jason Brennan

Producer – Josée Langlois

Produced By Nish Media

“FASTEST MARATHON EVER RUN BY LONGBOAT” from the Boston Globe. ©1907 Boston Globe Media Partners. All rights reserved. Used under license.