Wearing buffalo breastplate and four-direction drum, Caribou Legs runs through Winnipeg

The Gwich'in runner known as 'Caribou Legs' had his face painted and legs pumping as he stopped in Winnipeg this week. Brad Firth is running from Vancouver to Newfoundland to raise awareness of missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada.

"A lot of people are now honking their horns when they are driving by on the highway; they are appreciative of my efforts," Firth said.

That wasn't originally the case when Firth was stopped by police three times while running through Alberta. Although the experiences left Firth disappointed he said he now has a liaison giving police forces a heads-up as he runs across the country.

• Long distance runner 'Caribou Legs' stopped by Alberta RCMP

Firth stands out trekking across the long highways of the Canadian Prairies. He wears regalia, with colours representing unity, the four sacred directions, and the medicine wheel.

"I wear my buffalo breastplate and I also carry my drum, my four-direction drum, which is also used as my suitcase," Firth said.

"I put my medicines inside, I put my food inside, any other things that I need to help me run efficiently and effectively."

There's also a knapsack which weighs under 15 pounds and three litres of water, but Firth doesn't bring a sleeping bag. He said sometimes he is lucky enough to travel the distance to get to a motel but often he ends up sleeping in the bush under a makeshift lean-to shelter.

Caribou Legs runs through Winnipeg

8 years ago

Duration 5:13

The Gwich'in runner known as 'Caribou Legs' had his face painted and legs pumping as he stopped in Winnipeg this week. Brad Firth is running from Vancouver to Newfoundland to raise awareness of missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada.

"[I try to] represent the traditional warriors way back before contact and how they carried messages. They carried healthy messages from nation to nation," Firth said.

The runner stopped into Winnipeg as the federal government prepares to lay out the details of the missing and murdered indigenous women inquiry on Wednesday.

"It's just coincidental I think but it's also giving people hope," he said.

He's said he hopes the inquiry will be systemic change but no matter what is laid out in the details, he will be lacing up his shoes and preparing for the next leg of his journey.

"I feel accepted. I feel like my work is validated and I enjoy carrying this message and the message of many Canadians out there who want something done," he said.

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• Missing, murdered Indigenous women inquiry launch coming next week