A piece of the 2010 winter Olympics came to Calgary yesterday with the announcement of Alberta’s first Aboriginal Olympic torchbearer.
Wilton Littlechild was the newest Canadian named to carry the Olympic torch, and is excited about the honour.
“I was pretty excited to say that is underscoring it a bit, I am very, very honoured and overwhelmed in a way as well,” said Littlechild.
Littlechild was born on the Ermineskin Cree Reserve near Hobbema, Alta., and became the first Treaty First Nation person to earn a law degree from the University of Alberta.
Not only does Littlechild have an impressive academic background, but he has an extensive athletic one as well.
He has won more than 50 provincial, regional, national and international championships in various sports, and has been inducted into seven different sports halls of fame.
Founding the North American Indigenous Games is another accolade for Littlechild to add to the long list.
Littlechild’s involvement in sports throughout his life makes the chance to carry the Olympic torch an extra-special experience for him.
“I’ve been involved with sport promotion all my life and to finally get a chance to lift the torch like this for the Olympics, not only for our country but for the world, to bring about peace and hope is just a tremendous, tremendous exhilaration,” said Littlechild.
