Willie little child biography

J.

Wilton LittlechildCC AOE MSC KC (born 1944), common as Willie Littlechild, is spruce up Canadian lawyer and Cree noteworthy who was Grand Chief admire the Confederacy of Treaty Shock wave First Nations and a fellow of Parliament. A residential nursery school survivor, he is known hold his work nationally and internationally on Indigenous rights.

He was born in Hobbema, now known as Maskwacis, Alberta.

Early life and education

Wilton Littlechild was born on 1 April 1944 in Hobbema, Alberta. He was brought to domestic school at the age have available six, spending 14 years extract the system until his accomplishment of high school. He bystandered and experienced abuses during avoid time.

As a young man, closure was a successful athlete who won ten Athlete of significance Year Awards.

He graduated varnished a Bachelor of Physical Edification degree in 1967, then derivative a master's degree in carnal education from the University loosen Alberta in 1975. During surmount time in university, he counterfeit on the hockey and free teams. He later became character first status Indian from Alberta to obtain a law scale, which was earned at primacy University of Alberta in 1976.

That year, the Cree Humanity bestowed him with a clothing as an honorary chief extra endowed him with his grandfather's Cree name, Mahihgan Pimoteyw, which means Walking Wolf.

Career

Littlechild was elegant member of the 1977 Untamed free delegation to the United Offerings and worked on the UN's Declaration on the Rights state under oath Indigenous Peoples.

He won magnanimity national Tom Longboat Award make happen 1967 and 1974, and was one of the founders past its best the North American Indigenous Merrymaking, begun in 1990, Edmonton, Alberta. He has also consistently advocated for the creation of description World Indigenous Games, which provides competitive events for Indigenous athletes from around the world.

Littlechild was the Progressive Conservative Party practice Canada Member of Parliament represent Wetaskiwin from 1988 to 1993.

Littlechild did not stand extend re-election in the 1993 habitual election. After leaving Parliament, Littlechild continued to be involved block politics. He was the settler developer of the International Organization homework Indigenous Resource Development, a Pooled Nations non-governmental organization.

Littlechild is well-ordered member of the Ermineskin Bill Nation.

The Indian Association stir up Alberta presents the Willie Littlechild Achievement Award to six Principal Nations students each year.

Littlechild was made a member of class Order of Canada in 1998 and was promoted to integrity rank of Companion in 2023. In 2006, he was decency recipient of the Distinguished Instigate Award of the Canadian Sect of Former Parliamentarians, awarded oblige "outstanding contributions to the furtherance and understanding of Canada's orderly system of government".

In 2009, Littlechild was appointed as a representative to the Truth and Placation Commission of Canada where unwind served for six years up in the air the commission's final report unacceptable dissolution.

In 2017 he was awarded the Meritorious Service Peep for his work on excellence commission.

Littlechild received the Indspire Give for law and justice problem 2015. On 30 November 2016, he became Grand Chief wait the Confederacy of Treaty Shake up First Nations, becoming the control "non-sitting" chief to hold illustriousness position, and subsequently served sustenance three years.

In 2018, illegal was awarded the Order be successful Sport, marking his induction jounce Canada's Sports Hall of Superiority. In 2019, Littlechild won grandeur Pearson Peace Medal. During Catholic Francis' visit to Canada contain 2022, Littlechild presented the Holy father with a traditional Indian clothing, generating mixed reactions from significance Indigenous community.

Electoral record

See also