Alwyn Morris facts for kids
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| Born | November 22, 1957 Kahnawake, Quebec, Canada |
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| Country |  Canada |
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| Sport | Canoe racing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Alwyn Morris, CM, is a retired Canadian sprint kayaker and a true sports hero. He is a member of the Mohawk nation in Kahnawake, Quebec. Many people see him as one of the most important Indigenous athletes in history.
Morris made history by becoming the first Indigenous Canadian athlete to win a gold medal at the Summer Olympic Games. He is one of only three Indigenous athletes from North America to achieve this, along with American athletes Jim Thorpe and Billy Mills.
Contents
A Champion on the Water
The Start of a Journey
As a young teenager, Alwyn Morris was inspired to become a top-level canoeist after watching the sport at the Olympics. His grandfather encouraged him and gave him advice to follow his dream.
Morris's hard work paid off. In 1977, he won the Canadian National Junior Title in two events: the K-1 1,000-meter and the K-1 500-meter races. From 1980 to 1984, he was unbeatable, winning six Canadian championships in a row in the K-1 event.
He also competed against the best in the world at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships. He won a silver medal in 1982 and a bronze medal in 1983.
Olympic Glory in Los Angeles
The highlight of Morris's career came at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. He and his partner, Hugh Fisher, were an amazing team. Together, they won a gold medal in the K-2 1000-meter race and a bronze medal in the K-2 500-meter race.
The Famous Eagle Feather Salute
When Morris and Fisher stood on the podium to receive their gold medals, Morris did something powerful. He raised a single eagle feather high in the air. This moment, known as the Eagle Feather Salute, became famous and inspired both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.
In an interview years later, Morris explained why he did it. First, it was a tribute to his grandparents, especially his grandfather who had passed away. "He wasn't there any longer," Morris said, "and I needed to be able to show my respect for what he had taught me."
Second, Morris wanted to share his victory with all Indigenous Peoples in Canada. He also wanted to show his pride in his heritage. "I am a Mohawk person," he explained, "and it was important for me to be self identified in order to share that with the other part of who I am."
The Eagle Feather Salute is often compared to the Black Power salute by American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Olympics. Both are seen as iconic moments where athletes used their platform to make an important statement about their identity and community.
A Leader for His Community
After his athletic career, Morris became involved in politics. He wanted to help with issues related to Indigenous rights and self-governance, which means helping Indigenous communities have more control over their own affairs. He has been an active member of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake and an advisor on land issues.
Morris also had a dream to create sports programs for Indigenous youth. In 1995, he helped start the Aboriginal Sport Circle. This national group supports Indigenous athletes and sports. Morris is currently the chairperson of the organization.
In 2009, Morris had another special honor. He carried the Olympic torch through his home community of Kahnawake as part of the relay for the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games.
Awards and Honors
Alwyn Morris has received many awards for his amazing achievements.
- He won the Tom Longboat Award twice, in 1977 and 1984. This award honors the best Indigenous athletes in Canada.
- In 1985, he was made a member of the prestigious Order of Canada.
- He received the National Aboriginal Achievement Award (now called the Indspire Awards) for his success in sports.
- In 2000, he was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.
His success has been a huge inspiration for Indigenous communities. As one person from his community said, "I could never even fathom, that somebody from this community would be the best in the entire world."
See also
In Spanish: Alwyn Morris para niños
