Anita Cardinal has been a runner for a long time. She remembers running as a child and being amazed by her father’s running prowess. She competed in sports and loves how running makes her feel and connect to the land. She would also notice she was the only person who looked like her at the start line. She knew running was important to many other Indigenous people and wanted to create a safe space where they could run together. The Indigenous Runners Alliance was created, and now they’re organizing events, helping Indigenous runners participate in other events, and growing the Alliance constantly. It was incredible to hear her story, and I’m so glad to be able to share it.
Check out Orange Shirt Run/Walk going on this weekend in Edmonton, and next week in Calgary and Saskatoon!
More incredible Indigenous runners:
The Long Run. Featuring Tarrant Cross Child
“I would run all through there when I was younger and my grandfather knew I'd love to run, he would get me to round up the horses. So I'd have to go spend some time out there in the buttes rounding up the horses and bringing them into the corral. So it was actually out there where he really realized I loved running.”
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Credits
Hosted and produced by Adam Lee. Theme music “Get Your Ass Outside” by A Brother’s Fountain(!). Used with permission.
