Fred Sasakamoose

The first Indigenous Canadian to play in the National Hockey League (NHL), Sasakamoose paved the way for Indigenous hockey players in the NHL. He not only used his platform as a professional athlete to challenge stereotypes and promote inclusion and diversity in hockey and sports, but also served as Chief and spent 30 years as a Band Coucillor for the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation, serving as an Elder teaching youth to hunt, fish, and trap, and counselling others about substance use. A residential school survivor, Sasakamoose used his voice to testify at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada about abuse suffered during his time there. Sasakamoose also spent 60 years establishing hockey programs, leagues and camps focused on the experiences of youth.

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