When Mi'kmaq amateur runner Jarvis Googoo raced the 126th Boston Marathon on Monday, it became a day of firsts.

Googoo became the first from We'koqma鈥檘 First Nation in Nova Scotia to qualify for and compete in the race. He crossed the finish line in three hours and 15 minutes.

Before Googoo left for Boston, people lined the streets and created a to share their pride.

Googoo was sponsored by his chief and council at We'koqma'q First Nation, local businesses in Mi'kma'ki, and the First Nations Regional Adult Education in Gesgapegiag, Que. He also received sponsorship from some local businesses.

And so he ran, motivated by the love and power of his community.

鈥淎s a Mi鈥檏maw runner, I鈥檓 grateful to do the @bostonmarathon on the ancestral homelands of the Massachusett, the Mashpee Wampanoag, and the Pawtucket people,鈥 Googoo said on his .

鈥淚ndigenous runners have participated in this race over its long history. I鈥檓 honoured to now be one of them.鈥