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Local artist painting to support long-distance runner

Apr 21, 2018 | 10:35 AM

A local artist is creating a painting to support a famed Indigenous long-distance runner.

As Brad Firth, better known as Caribou Legs, prepares for another epic run across the country to raise support for residential school survivors, Kimberly Roblin is doing what she does best to support the runner.

“I told him that I was an artist… and if he would consider sending me some pictures that we could paint for him and use them as a promotion for his run across Canada to help fundraise,” Roblin said. “He’s doing it all on his own, he’s got nobody sponsoring him, everything he does, it’s all donations from people.”

With a laugh, Roblin suggested the long-distance runner would be in need of shoes for his run, and she was happy to offer her support.

Out of all the people who run great distances, or make treks across the country to show their support for a cause, Caribou Legs resonated with Roblin. Part of the reason she wanted to show her support is that she knew Prince Albert is the site of one of the largest residential schools in Saskatchewan. She’s said she’d like to try and get Caribou Legs to come to Prince Albert to speak with people about residential schools, however, she’s still unsure if his busy schedule would allow for such a stop.

Roblin first discovered Caribou Legs during his most recent run across Canada. She said since she started following the runner on social media, he’s run from Hay River, N.W.T. to Yellowknife. He also ran the Highway of Tears, connecting Prince George, B.C. to Prince Rupert, B.C. While many people run or walk across the country for various causes, Roblin said she felt connected to Caribou Leg’s sense of community. Community is an important aspect of life for the artist; after spending some time in a big city, she said she felt isolated. Being in a smaller community now, she said she doesn’t feel as isolated anymore.

“When I watch him go across Canada, or any of the runs he that does, when I see him get involved with the community, even though he’s running on the highway alone, he’s got a community backing him up,” Roblin said. “I like community, because it just makes you feel like your part of something… we need more community atmosphere, and that’s kind of what he brings to me.”

 

Bryan.Eneas@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @BryanEneas