14 Facts About Willie Littlechild

Willie Littlechild was born in Hobbema, now named Maskwacis, Alberta.

Wilton Littlechild was born on 1 April 1944 in Hobbema, Alberta.

Willie Littlechild was brought to residential school at the age of six, spending 14 years in the system until his completion of high school.

Willie Littlechild graduated with a Bachelor of Physical Education degree in 1967, then obtained a master's degree in physical education from the University of Alberta in 1975.

Willie Littlechild later became the first status Indian from Alberta to obtain a law degree, which was earned at the University of Alberta in 1976.

Willie Littlechild was a member of the 1977 Indigenous delegation to the United Nations and worked on the UN's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Willie Littlechild won the national Tom Longboat Award in 1967 and 1974, and was one of the founders of the North American Indigenous Games, begun in 1990, Edmonton, Alberta.

Willie Littlechild has consistently advocated for the creation of the World Indigenous Games, which provides competitive events for Indigenous athletes from around the world.

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

Willie Littlechild did not stand for re-election in the 1993 general election.

Willie Littlechild was the founder of the International Organization of Indigenous Resource Development, a United Nations non-governmental organization.

Willie Littlechild was made a member of the Order of Canada in 1998 and was promoted to the rank of Companion in 2023.

In 2009, Willie Littlechild was appointed as a commissioner to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada where he served for six years until the commission's final report and dissolution.

Willie Littlechild received the Indspire Award for law and justice in 2015.