June is Indigenous History Month.
*An Ermineskin Cree Nation FIRST *
Dr. Chief Wilton Littlechild
Distinguished leader, advocate, and trailblazer.
A proud member of the Ermineskin Cree Nation, Chief Littlechild has dedicated his life to the pursuit of justice, human rights, and reconciliation.
🏊🏾♂️- Member of the Canadian national track and field team in the 1960s and 1970s.
🏒- Competed on the Golden Bears diving and hockey teams.
– Played forward on the 1965-66 Golden Bears hockey team that won the Western Canada Intercollegiate title.
🏆- Awarded the Tom Longboat Trophy in 1967 and again in 1974 as the Indian Athlete of the Year in Canada.
🧑🏾🎓- Graduate of a Bachelor of Physical Education degree in 1967.
🧑🏾🎓- Obtained a Master’s Degree in physical education from the University of Alberta in 1975.
⚖️🧑🏾🎓- Wilton Littlechild became Alberta’s 1st Treaty First Nation person to become a lawyer and obtain a law degree, which was earned at the University of Alberta in 1976.
-1970’s: Established and coached the first all-Indigenous junior hockey team in Alberta, the INSPOL Thunderbirds (later the Hobbema Hawks)
-1975: established the National Indian Athletic Association (NIAA)
– 1977, first established Law Practice in Ermineskin Cree Nation.
– NAIG Founder, one of the founders of the North American Indigenous Games 1990, Edmonton, Alberta.
– Helped organize the second World Indigenous Nations Games, held on traditional Treaty 6 territory at Maskwacis, Alberta.
– He became the 1st, Treaty First Nation person elected as Member of Parliament for Wetaskiwin-Rimbey. Member of Parliament for Wetaskiwin from 1988 to 1993.
– Founder of the International Organization of Indigenous Resource Development, a United Nations non-governmental organization.
– Awarded the Order of Canada in 1998 and was promoted to the rank of Companion in 2023.
– Awarded Alberta Order of Excellence 2014 and was granted the title of Queen’s Counsel
– Served as a parliamentary delegate to the United Nations.
– Advocate at the UN Human Rights Council, world conferences and seminars, the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, as well as being a representative of the International Organization of Indigenous Resource Development.
– He is a founding member of the Indigenous Initiative for Peace, the chairperson for the Denver Text of the OAS Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
– A member and VP for the Indigenous Parliament of the Americas.
– He is currently a member of Expert Mechanism on the Right of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) and has served two years as Chairperson.
– Honorary Chief for the Maskwacis Crees and also honoured by the Chiefs of the Confederacy of Treaty 7 and 8 First Nations as the International Chief for Treaty 6.
-The recipient of the Distinguished Service Award of the Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians.
– Named as one of the 2000 Outstanding Intellectuals of the 21st Century in 2004
– Torch Bearer and ambassador for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.
– Served as the vice-president of the University Men’s Athletic Association and as vice-president of the Indian Law Student Association.
– Sports Hall Of Fame Inductee 2018, inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. He has won more than 70 provincial, regional, national and international championships.
– Served as a commissioner for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.
– 2007 – U of Alberta – Honourary Doctorate
-In 2019, Littlechild won the Pearson Peace Medal.
-Competed in the Canada Senior Games (now the Canada 55 Plus Games) and the Alberta Senior Games, winning multiple medals in swimming, winning one gold and three silver medals in swimming.
– Honoured as Lawyer of the Year (Aboriginal Law) and received the Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.
– Honoured with the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (“For Church and Pope”) Papal Award at a ceremony at the Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica in Ottawa, 2023.
– Honoured with the King’s Coronation Medal from the King Charles 2025.
Throughout his career, Chief Littlechild has been a tireless defender of Indigenous rights, both nationally and internationally, serving as a respected voice at the United Nations and other global forums.
He continues to lead with wisdom, integrity, and a deep commitment to Treaty implementation and Nation-to-Nation relationships.
