Honouring the Greatest Canadian Aboriginal Athlete
The Awards
Tom Longboat was one of the most celebrated and accomplished athletes in Canadian history. A member of the Onondaga Nation who resided in Six Nations of the Grand River, Tom Longboat was one of the most gifted long distance runners of all time. In just his third competitive race, he set the world record for the marathon, smashing the previous mark by over five and one-half minutes. In the years prior to the First World War, Tom Longboat won most of the major distance races in North America and Europe, including the Boston Marathon and the Powderhall Marathon in Edinburgh, Scotland. At a time when indoor marathon running attracted sell-out crowds, he was the world’s professional champion. At one point or another, he held every Canadian record from one mile to the marathon.
Throughout his life, Tom Longboat spoke proudly of his First Nations heritage and held his head high in times of great adversity. He was the headline attraction wherever he raced, drawing huge crowds and a widespread following.
In 1999, Maclean’s Magazine voted him the #1 Canadian sports figure of the twentieth century.
Established in 1951, the Tom Longboat Awards serve as a proud national symbol for all Aboriginal peoples in Canada.
(Dr. Bruce Kidd, Olympian and Tom Longboat historian)
Celebrating Aboriginal Excellence in Sport
Who is eligible
Nominations are invited from all levels of sport.
To be eligible, athletes must meet the following criteria:
- Must be able to prove Indigenous ancestry
- Must have amateur status.
- Must be for athletic achievements within the 2017 calendar year.
- Must submit a completed nomination form on or before the deadline of May 31, 2018.
Nominations
How do you nominate an athlete? Complete the nomination form and forward it to ASRCNL Main Office
Step #1
Complete a Nomination Form
(provide detailed information on the nominee and nominator, if applicable)
Step #2
Complete a supporting narrative
STEP #3
Send the Nomination Form and Narrative to Aboriginal Sport and Recreation Circle NL Deadline May 31, 2018