How hockey saved Wilton Littlechild—and now transforms Indigenous youth
Chief Wilton Littlechild has long championed the power of sports to transform lives. As an honorary board member of the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation (EOCF), he now helps Indigenous youth access opportunities through hockey. His own journey—from residential schools to international law—shows how sports can build resilience and open doors.
Born on an Indian reserve, Littlechild spent 14 years separated from his family in three residential schools. The institutions aimed to 'Christianise and civilise' him, but hockey became his refuge. The game gave him purpose, teaching discipline and the balance needed for success.
A skiing accident later cut short his hockey dreams. Instead of staying on the ice, he turned to law school. His legal career eventually took him to international courts, where he fought for Indigenous rights. Yet he never forgot how sports had saved him.
Now, through the EOCF’s Every Kid Deserves a Shot programme, he ensures others get the same chance. The initiative helps young people, especially Indigenous youth, play hockey and grow in confidence. Littlechild sees it as a step toward reconciliation—one that honours every child’s right to happiness.
Littlechild’s work bridges his past and present. The EOCF programme gives Indigenous youth access to sports, just as the sport once gave him direction. His story and efforts now create pathways for a new generation to thrive.
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