• Competed on the Golden Bears diving and hockey teams.
• Played forward on the 1965-66 Golden Bears hockey team that won the Western Canada Intercollegiate title.
• Served as the vice-president of the University Men's Athletic Association and as vice-president of the Indian Law Student Association.
• Awarded the Tom Longboat Trophy in 1967 and again in 1974 as the Indian Athlete of the Year in Canada.
• Served as Member of Parliament for Wetaskiwin-Rimbey (1988-93).
• Awarded the Order of Canada, Alberta Order of Excellence and Queen’s Counsel
• Inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame

Willie Littlechild was born in Hobbema, Alberta in 1944. He attended Ermineskin Indian School until the completion of grade eleven at which time he transferred to St. Anthony's College in Edmonton to complete his grade twelve.

Willie enrolled in the Faculty of Physical Education at the University of Alberta in 1964. He completed his Bachelor's degree in 1967. In 1975, he returned to the University of Alberta for a Master's degree in Physical Education, and the following year he completed his Law Degree. During his undergraduate years at the University, Willie was a member of the varsity hockey and diving teams. In 1965-66, he was a forward with the Western Canada Intercollegiate Hockey champion Golden Bears. Willie was also involved on campus as the Vice-President of the Men's Athletic Association and Vice-President of the Indian Law Student Association. In 1967 and 1974 he was awarded the Tom Longboat Trophy as the Indian Athlete of the Year in Canada.

Since graduating from the University of Alberta, Willie has been the recipient of numerous awards. In 1976 he was named Honorary Chief of the Cree Tribe, the first honor to an Indian in nearly one hundred years. He was awarded the Alberta Achievement Award for Excellence in Sport in 1975 and was selected the 1983 Indian Business Man-of-the-Year in Canada.

In 1973 Willie organized the Hockey Council to help promote hockey among the native people. Through his leadership, the National Indian Activities Association was formed to organize and develop national championships in Canada and the United States.

An annual award is presented by the Indian Association of Alberta in the name of Willie Littlechild to six native students for outstanding contributions to their communities as well as athletic and academic excellence.