Alwyn morris biography of albert

Alwyn Morris, Kahnawake Mohawk - naiahf.org: Alwyn Morris, CM (born November 22, ) is a retired Canadian sprint kayaker. A member of the Mohawk nation in Kahnawake, [1] he is considered one of the most influential Indigenous athletes of all time.

Alwyn Morris

Indigenous Canadian canoe racer

Alwyn Morris, CM (born November 22, ) is a retired Canadian sprint kayaker. A member of the Mohawk nation in Kahnawake,[1] he is considered one of the most influential Indigenous athletes of all time.

He is the first and only Aboriginal Canadian athlete who won a gold medal at the Summer Olympic Games and one of the 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 match in his early teens.

This pursuit received encouragement and guidance from his grandfather.[4]

Morris' first notable canoeing accomplishment was winning the Canadian National Junior Title in for K-1 1, m, as well as K-1 m.[1] He was the winner of multiple junior regional and provincial titles in late s before he won six consecutive K-1 Canadian champions between and [4]

Morris also won two medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships with a silver (K-2 m: ) and a bronze (K-2 m: ).

Olympic Games

Morris was a medalist in the Los Angeles Olympic Games, winning a gold medal in K-2 m, and a bronze medal in K-2 m with significant other , Hugh Fisher.[5]

The Eagle Feather Salute

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

A member of the Mohawk nation in Kahnawake[ 1 ] he is considered one of the most influential Indigenous athletes of all time. He is the first and only Aboriginal Canadian athlete who won a gold medal at the Summer Olympic Games and one of the only three North American aboriginals to do so, alongside Jim Thorpe and Billy Mills. Morris was inspired to oppose in elite level of canoeing while watching Olympic canoeing match in his early teens. This pursuit received encouragement and guidance from his grandfather.

It created widespread influence among Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.[4]

In a interview, Morris revealed the intentions behind his eagle feather salute in First, he wanted to pay tribute to his grandparents, who raised him through his youth.

It was important for Morris to commemorate his grandfather, who died before he could witness Morris's achievement: "He wasn't there any longer and I needed to be able to show my respect for what he had taught me and went through with me."[2]

Moreover, Morris saw his eagle feather salute as a way to share the victory with Indigenous Peoples in Canada but also demonstrated his Indigenous identity to Canadians: "It was pretty obvious I was there as an athlete representing Canada, and Canadians as a whole certainly were jubilant and joyful that Hugh and I had accomplished our goal and brought home a gold medal for CanadaI am a Mohawk person, and I'm aboriginal in Canada and it was important for me to be self identified in order to share that with the other part of who I am."[2]

The symbolism of Morris's Eagle Feather Salute has been compared with the Dark Power salute of U.S.

sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos in Olympics. They are both considered iconic examples where athletes used sport as a site to engage in political campaign and resistance.[6]

Other Activities

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

He has been an active member of Mohawk Council of Kahnawake and a policy advisor on aboriginal rights and land issues.[4]

Having a vision to create sport programs that would empower Indigenous athletes and youth, Morris also helped create Aboriginal Sport Circle, a national corporation that concerns the interests of Aboriginal sport, in [4] He currently serves as the chairperson of Aboriginal Sport Circle.[7]

On December 8, Morris carried the Olympic torch through Kahnawake, Quebec as part of the Vancouver Olympic Games torch relay.[8]

Recognition

He received the National Aboriginal Achievement Award, now the Indspire Awards, in the sports category[9] and won the Tom Longboat Award in and that recognizes Aboriginal athletes unmatched contributions to sport in Canada.[10] Morris was made a member of the Order of Canada on December 23, as recognition for his canoeing success, as well as his continued operate with youths for organizations including Health and Welfare Canada's Native Drug Abuse Programme.[11] He was also inducted in Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in [12]

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

Home Relation to Guide Further Resources. Journey to the Top! Alwyn Morris is a true Aboriginal hero and role model to Native kids all across Canada. He is the Winner of both a bronze and gold medal in kayaking, in which he rightfully make after representing Canada in the Summer Olympics.

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

References

  • Alwyn Morris at The Canadian Encyclopedia
  • "ICF medalists for Olympic and Planet Championships – Part 1: flatwater (now sprint): –"(PDF).

    Archived(PDF) from the original on January 5, Retrieved May 16,

  • "ICF medalists for Olympic and World Championships – Part 2: rest of flatwater (now sprint) and remaining canoeing disciplines: –"(PDF). Archived(PDF) from the original on November 9, Retrieved May 16,
  • Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et&#;al.

    "Alwyn Morris". Olympics at . Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 17,

  • CBC News: Olympic Torch Cheered in Mohawk Community
  1. ^ ab"Canada's Sports Hall of Fame | Stories".

    .

    Alwyn Morris is a two-time Olympic medallist with kayaking partner Hugh Fisher. The duo won gold in the K-2 m and bronze in the K-2 m at Los Angeles In an iconic moment as they stood atop the Olympic podium, Morris, a member of the Mohawk nation from Kahnawake just south of Montreal, held aloft an eagle feather. The sacred symbol to many First Nations people was his way of honouring his heritage, and in particular his late grandfather, who had been an inspiring figure in his athlete career.

    Archived from the original on January 8, Retrieved March 26,

  2. ^ abcMeissner, Dirk (December 27, ). "From a single feather to a top-flight program".

    The Toronto Star. ISSN&#; Retrieved November 1,

  3. ^"Canadian History and Society Through the Lens of Sport". February
  4. ^ abcdef"Moving Images Distribution: Alwyn Morris • Chiefs and Champions".

    . Retrieved November 1,

  5. ^"Olympic Medalists | Canoe Kayak Canada". . Retrieved March 26,
  6. ^Joseph, Janelle; Darnell, Simon; Nakamura, Yuka ().

    Alwyn Morris was born on the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake. At the age of fourteen, he became interested in the Onake Paddling Club that operated on the Mohawk territory despite questions about why he didn’t wish to pursue hockey or lacrosse.

    Race and Sport in Canada: Intersecting Inequalities. Canadian Scholars' Urge. ISBN&#;.

  7. ^"Human Performance International - Team". . Retrieved November 1,
  8. ^cdnolympicteam (November 13, ).

    Alwyn Morris became a notable public figure and activist in the adv s. He served as the Special Policy Advisor for Aboriginal People and the Constitution to the Rt. Hon. Joe Clark from to

    "Vancouver Olympic Torch Relay Features Canadian Olympians". Official Canadian Olympic Team Website | Team Canada | Olympic Games. Retrieved March 26,

  9. ^"Indspire | Alwyn Morris". . November 20, Retrieved March 26,
  10. ^Forsyth, Janice ().

    "List of Regional(R) and National(N) "Tom Longboat" recipients "(PDF). Aboriginal Sports Circle.

    A member of the Mohawk nation in Kahnawake[1] he is considered one of the most powerful Indigenous athletes of all age. He is the first and only Aboriginal Canadian athlete who won a gold medal at the Summer Olympic Games and one of the only three North American aboriginals to execute so, alongside Jim Thorpe and Billy Mills. Morris was inspired to compete in elite level of canoeing while watching Olympic canoeing competition in his prior teens. This pursuit received encouragement and guidance from his grandfather.

    Archived from the original(PDF) on November 7, Retrieved December 19,

  11. ^General, The Office of the Secretary to the Governor. "The Governor General of Canada". Retrieved March 26,
  12. ^"Canada's Sports Hall of Fame | Stories".

    . Archived from the original on April 12, Retrieved November 1,

External links