Home > The Scene

April and Melanie Boultbee on running as a vehicle for change

The sisters are using their voices and their feet to raise awareness of the injustices Indigenous people in Canada are facing

April and Melanie Boultbee began running during elementary school in Atikokan, Ont., west of Thunder Bay. They returned to the sport as adults, and since then the sisters have made a name for themselves in road races and now trail and ultratrail events. They are also longtime volunteers with the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon and other events for the Canada Running Series and have recently joined the board of the Canada Running Series Foundation. Running has been a part of who they are for more than half their lives, and as Indigenous people living in Canada, they have been able to use their prominence in the Ontario running scene to bring attention to the inequalities Indigenous people have faced, and continue to face, throughout Canada’s history. We sat down with them to talk about the role running has played in their lives and how the sport can be used to highlight important causes and ignite change.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CQoOaS-HYnA/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

RELATED: London, Ont. runner to host 5K run for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

The discovery of the more than 4,000 children buried at residential schools across Canada over the last several months has brought the injustices committed against Indigenous peoples in this country into the spotlight in a way they never have been before. This has been an emotional and difficult time for groups across Canada, but sadly, not news.

“I’d say the last 150+ years have been difficult for Indigenous peoples,” says April. “There has been much injustice towards Indigenous people throughout Canada’s history – lack of clean drinking water, residential schools, the Sixties Scoop, MMIW [Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women], the number of Indigenous children ‘in care’ today…..the list goes on and on.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CPiw20wHvFV/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Running has been used by many people to raise funds for various causes, and the Boultbees have used their passion for the sport to raise awareness and support for Indigenous people in Canada. After the 215 children’s graves were discovered in Kamloops earlier this year, the sisters started the #215milesfor215children campaign based on @Native_women_running’s challenge, which encouraged supporters to run 2.15 miles to honour those children from the Kamloops residential school that never made it home and to raise money for the Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS).  They reached their initial goal of raising $2,150 in just 24 hours, so they reset their goal for $5,000. In the end, they raised $5,966.

In early September, Melanie and April joined Heather Colasuonnowho organized a 57 km run raising funds for the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada in honour of Devon Freeman, an Indigenous youth who died by suicide while living in a group home near Hamilton.

“This run was an amazing experience, and we were greeted by the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation with drumming, singing and a round dance when we completed the distance,” they told us. “Meeting Devon’s grandmother was also very special.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CTpL8XHLE8V/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The sisters add that running as a way to promote healthy living, in general, is a good thing. On a more personal note, they note that when they feel sad or angry about things, being able to get outside and move can be very helpful. “Sometimes running and talking about the issues of the day with each other and other friends is very healing,” they explain. “So much can be talked about during a long run with friends.”

RELATED: Lululemon’s newest ambassador is lending his voice to make running more inclusive

For runners who want to be allies for the Indigenous people in this country, April and Melanie explain the best thing you can do is to learn the history of the land you are on and the people who have lived there. You can become an ally by taking the time to learn about residential schools, contact your elected representatives to do something about the lack of clean drinking water on reserves, for example (there are many issues you can bring up with your elected officials), and speak out when you see examples of racism. Finally, they say all runners should support and encourage new BIPOC runners to “keep at it.” The importance of representation in the running community cannot be overstated, and every individual, no matter their background, should have equal access to the sport.

Check out the latest buyer's guide:

The best trainers in Canada under $150

We curated the best performance trainers under $150 to meet your 2024 running goals, while staying on budget