News
Every October, runners gather at UBC for RUNVAN’s Great Trek, a tradition rooted in history and resilience. But behind the event’s name lies a deeper story. One that invites us to pause, reflect, and run with greater awareness.
The Great Trek dates back to 1922, when UBC students marched from the university’s original site near Vancouver General Hospital to Point Grey, placing pressure on the provincial government to build a proper campus. Their journey symbolized determination, advocacy, and collective strength. Yet it also unfolded on the unceded, traditional territory of the xwməθkwəy̓ əm (Musqueam people), land that was never surrendered or given up.
This layered history reminds us that the places we run, race, and recreate carry stories much older than the institutions that now occupy them. Indigenous peoples have lived, stewarded, and thrived on these lands since time immemorial.
Recognizing this history does not diminish our love of running. It deepens it. It allows us to honour the land, acknowledge the truths of colonization, and imagine how sport can play a role in reconciliation.
That is where Indigenous Women Outdoors (IWO) comes in. We are a non-profit organization dedicated to creating culturally safe and empowering spaces for Indigenous women and non-binary individuals to connect with the land, one another, and themselves through movement. From running and trail running to skiing, snowshoeing, and mountain biking, our programs are about more than recreation; they are about reclaiming space, building community, and strengthening relationships with the land.
Our partnership with RUNVAN is meaningful because it makes room for Indigenous presence and leadership in spaces where our visibility has often been absent. Through this collaboration, we hope to encourage all runners, Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike, to reflect on the lands where we run, the histories that shaped them, and the responsibilities we carry moving forward.
One way RUNVAN honours this is through the integration of Indigenous art into the race experience, including this year’s medals designed by xwməθkwəy̓ əm artist Darryl Blyth. When you cross the finish line and hold that medal, we invite you to look closely. Learn about the art and the artist. Reflect on what it means for Indigenous voices and creativity to be centered in this space.
Running is an act of resilience, joy, and connection. However, it is also an opportunity: to recognize Indigenous sovereignty, to respect the land that sustains us, and to envision a future where sport and reconciliation move in tandem.
This year, as you lace up for the Great Trek, we invite you to carry this awareness with you. Run with respect. Run with gratitude. Run knowing that the land beneath your feet holds stories far older than the race itself.
Kinanâskomitin/Thank you,
Aiyana Anderson-MacIsaac
Executive Director
Indigenous Women Outdoors
