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Willie Littlechild has been involved in sports his
whole life. Born and raised in Hobbema, some of his first athletic
pursuits involved playing on the Ermineskin school baseball and
hockey teams. His athletic ability was apparent and at an early age
Willie realized the benefits of playing sports. Throughout
his career as an athlete and builder he has strived to create
opportunities for youth to improve their self esteem and realize
their potential through sport.
"His contributions
on the international stage
have benefited the global community."
As an
undergraduate in the faculty of Physical Education at the University of
Alberta, Willie was a member of the diving team and played on the Golden
Bear hockey team, winner of the Western Canadian Intervarsity
Championships (1964-65). It was at the U of A that Willie developed his
skills in sports administration by serving as vice-president of the
Men’s Athletic Association and as student manager of the Golden Bear
Basketball team (1966) and Canadian Champion Golden Bear Football team
(1967). Because of his athletic participation, service and
achievements, Willie received two U of A Major Athletic Block ‘A’
Awards, a Block ‘A” Ring as well as Athlete of the Year at St. Anthony’s
College.
Exceptional contribution to
interuniversity sport in the areas of athletics, academics, community
support and leadership.
After
graduating with his BPE (1967) Willie worked as a sports consultant and
conducted coaches and referee clinics throughout Alberta. In addition
he organized and executed many programs for Indian reserves in Canada
and the US including: organizing the Indian Sports Olympics (INSPOL) to
establish sports and recreational programs on Indian reserves (1969),
the Native Summer Games to promote cultural games and sports
competitions (1971), and the Indian Hockey Council to promote hockey
among the native people (1973) as well as co-ordinating Alberta
Provincial and the Western Canada Native Winter Games (1972). For 3
years in the early 1970’s he coached the first all Indian Central
Alberta Junior Hockey Team, the INSPOL Thunderbirds (later became the
Hobbema Hawks).
Athlete, Coach,
Volunteer, Organizer
Athletic Accomplishments and Leadership Qualities
Through
his leadership, the National Indian Athletic Association (NIAA) was
formed to organize and develop national championships in Canada and the
US. While playing in the Jamaica Baseball League, Willie served as an
International Red Cross volunteer and organized swimming and water
safety programs for students of all ages. In 1975 Willie returned to
the U of A and obtained his Master of Physical Education degree. Then
in 1976 he graduated with a Bachelor of Law Degree, becoming the first
Treaty Indian to do so. For this achievement he was named Honorary
Chief of the Cree Tribe, the first such honour bestowed in 100 years.
For his
early athletic accomplishments and leadership qualities, Willie was
awarded the Tom Longboat Award as the Indian Athlete of the Year in
Canada in 1967 and 1974 by the Sports Federation of Canada. He also
received the Alberta Achievement Award for Excellence in sport (1975).
His athletic career was recognized again when he was inducted into the
University of Alberta’s Sports Wall of Fame (1986). In 1989 the Indian
Association Of Alberta established an award in Willie’s name that was
presented annually for fifteen years to six native students for
outstanding contributions to their communities as well as athletic and
academic excellence.
Willie has
continued his involvement in sport both as a coach, athlete, volunteer
and organizer. Locally, he was a volunteer coach in the Wetaskiwin
Minor hockey program for 8 years and also coached the Wetaskiwin
Olympian Swim Team to the Provincial finals. Since 1993 he has been the
coach of the Alberta Swim Team at the North American Indigenous Games
and a swimming official at these games since 1990. Willie was a member
of the Wetaskiwin Colonel hockey team that won the Provincial
Intermediate Championships. Since 1980 Willie has competed in 25
International Old-timers’ Hockey Tournaments throughout Canada, Europe,
the US and Mexico as a member of either the Wetaskiwin Relics or the
Hobbema Oil Chiefs. During that span his teams won 10 gold, 2 silver, 3
bronze and 4 COHA World Cup gold medals.
In the North American Indian
Athletic Association Fastball Championships Willie was on the Alberta
team that was runner up in 1980 and winner in 1982. In 1980 Willie
played for Edmonton and won the Alberta Provincial Twilite Baseball
Championship. He also competed in the Indian Iron Man Triathlon and was
2nd in the Men’s Open in 1985 and in 1986 and 1987 was 1st in the senior
ranks. As a senior competitor Willie has participated in the NAIG in
swimming, winning 7 gold, 10 silver and 5 bronze medals. Willie
competed in the 2005 World Masters Games placing 6th in the triathlon.
In the Alberta Summer Games held in Wetaskiwin in 2005, Willie garnered
2 silver medals and as an Alberta team member in the 2006 Canada Senior
Games won 2 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze, all in swimming. Willie is a
versatile athlete and has had a brilliant lifetime athletic career that
is ongoing still.
International and Global Achievements
One of
Willie’s greatest achievements is co-founding the North American
Indigenous Games (NAIG). The idea for a Games of Indigenous Peoples
came from a 1975 meeting of the NIAA that Willie attended. At the 1977
World Council of Indigenous Peoples Annual Assembly in Sweden, Willie
presented a resolution to create an Indigenous Games on the Olympic
concept. That resolution was adopted and 13 years later in 1990 Willie
was the Honorary President of the first NAIG held in Edmonton. These
games are now held every 2 years and have grown from 3000 to 10,000
participants in 17 sports. Willie is currently working as President of
WIN Sports Inc. on the World Indigenous Games that will involve the
Indigenous People of the world. This concept has been approved by the
UN and has the support of the IOC.
World
recognition as an outstanding builder
of
major athletic events across North America
Willie was
elected Member of Parliament for the Wetaskiwin constituency in 1988,
becoming the first Treaty Indian to serve in this capacity. His tenure
lasted until 1993 and during those years Willie served on many senior
committees and was a parliamentary delegate to the UN in Geneva and New
York. He helped draft the United Nations OAS Declarations on the Rights
of Indigenous Peoples, included among the rights was the recognition of
“sports and traditional games”. Willie is still a member of the United
Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
As a sports advocate, Willie has
been a delegate to numerous conferences around the world dealing with
sports, physical activity, physical education, women in sports and
sports science, to name a few. Many sports organizations and
schools have engaged Willie as a guest speaker at their awards and
graduation ceremonies, a tribute to the respect and worldwide
recognition he has earned because of his endeavours.
Willie has distinguished himself as an athlete and a builder and has
brought honour to his family, his community, the Province of Alberta and
Canada. His contributions on the international stage have benefited the
global community.
We are indeed privileged to induct
Willie Littlechild into the Wetaskiwin & County Sports Hall of Fame.
HIGHLIGHTS OF ACHIEVEMENTS
Because of his involvement in sport at all levels and
his many accomplishments Willie has received numerous awards:
1988 - Paul Harris Fellowship Award from Rotary Clubs
of Canada for outstanding contribution to youth and sport development
1995 - Lifetime Achievement Award-Aboriginal Role
Model
1996 - Canadian Indigenous Sports Hall of Fame - Life
Time Achievements Sports Builder Award
1999 - Induction into Canadian Native Hockey Hall of
Fame
1999 - Induction into the University of Alberta
Distinguished Alumni Wall of Fame
1999 - Induction into the Canadian Indigenous Sports
Hall of Fame
1999 - Order of Canada
1999 and 2000 - World Fete d’ Excellence Laureate for
Sports in Geneva, Switzerland;
2003 - American Medal of Honour
2003 - International Medal of Honour for law and
sports
2004 - Order of International Ambassadors
2004 - Named one of the 2000 outstanding intellectuals
of the 21st Century
2006 - Distinguished Service Award
from the
Association of Former Parliamentarians
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