“I felt that the world had changed, had opened a gate for me. He blazed a trail for future NHL players such as Theo Fleury, Carey Price, Wade Redden, Sheldon Souray, Jordin Tootoo and Bryan Trottier. “I look at myself sometimes and say, ‘How in the hell did I ever get there?’” he told the commission. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman celebrated Saskamoose’s achievement as, “the culmination of years of dedication to overcoming adversity in pursuit of a dream, and the pivot point at which he turned his focus to helping others pursue their dreams.”, And NHL players of Indigenous descent also recognized the qualities of this amazing man. All I wanted was my parents.”. DARRYL DYCK/The Globe and Mail We aim to create a safe and valuable space for discussion and debate. Sasakamoose had a long and difficult path to the NHL, which included being taken from his family's home and shipped to the St. Michael's Indian Residential School … Read more: Fred Sasakamoose: Survivor, trailblazer, leader, hero. “Father Roussell had a dream,” he recalled. View All Available Formats & Editions. He was 86. Sasakamoose died Tuesday in Prince Albert, Sask. Fred Sasakamoose, one of the first Indigenous players in the NHL, has died after battling a presumed case of COVID-19. “He was kind of an uncovered jewel.”. $13.99. It was at this residential school near Duck Lake in 1944, he would first be noticed for his hockey skills by a priest who was the sports director of the residential school Sasakamoose was attending. He was initially called up by the Blackhawks and made his debut on Nov. 20, 1953, against the Boston Bruins, and played against the Maple Leafs two days later. Article content. By sheer determination, he managed to make it through the terrible experiences of residential school, fit in with the mostly white hockey players of the the time and somehow make his way all the way to the NHL. Fittingly, he was also the driving force behind an annual competition for hockey players from First Nations communities across the country, which became known as the Chief Thunderstick National Championship for Indigenous Hockey Athletes and held each year in Saskatoon. If you are looking to give feedback on our new site, please send it along to, To view this site properly, enable cookies in your browser. Agony was etched on the face of hockey pioneer Fred Sasakamoose this week as he talked about being raped at an Indian residential school almost seven decades ago. “I should’ve written a whole darn book about Fred Sasakamoose. 1 of 2 2 of 2. Residential school survivor and hockey legend Fred Sasakamoose will drop the puck at the Edmonton Oilers versus New York Rangers game tonight. He was later taken by ambulance to a medical centre in Prince Albert. “It doesn’t matter how many times you talk about the residential schools,” Mr. Sasakamoose said during an interview in 2016 with The Globe and Mail. Frederick (Fred) George Sasakamoose is Cree and was born at home at Whitefish Lake (now Big River First Nation), in Saskatchewan. Thank you for your patience. He was a survivor, a trailblazer and a leader. Fred Sasakamoose when he played for the Chicago Blackhawks. Neil Sasakamoose said last week that his father had been hospitalized in Saskatchewan […] Audio for this article is not available at this time. I see number 21. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said Mr. Sasakamoose was a “Canadian original” who not only was the first Cree player in the NHL but “then dedicated the rest of his long life to serving the First Nations community – by using hockey and other sports to provide opportunities for Indigenous youth.”. He believed in his culture, his language and his people. Sasakamoose had a long, difficult path to the NHL, which included being taken from his family's home and shipped to the St. Michael's Indian Residential School … In 2016, Mr. Sasakamoose was honoured in pregame ceremonies at Air Canada Centre in Toronto and at Rogers Place in Edmonton. In 1944 Sasakamoose joined the Duck Lake ice hockey team. “He had a story to tell. Of Cree descent, Sasakamoose was born in 1933 in Debden, Sask., and grew up on the Ahtahkakoop Indian Reserve. Neil Sasakamoose said his father wrote a book Call Me Indian that will go on sale on April 6, 2021. Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community. Fred Sasakamoose, torn from his home at the age of seven, endured the horrors of residential school for a decade before becoming one of 120 players in the most elite hockey league in the world. Fred’s son, Neil, announced his death in a video posted on Facebook. We aim to have all comments reviewed in a timely manner. Tributes to Mr. Sasakamoose poured in over social media upon news of his death. He could move you through words. Full Disclaimer. “His path to the NHL – from Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation, through the horrors of residential schools, to the NHL, is a story of perseverance through adversity. Mr. Sasakamoose died Tuesday afternoon in a Saskatchewan hospital from complications of COVID-19. One of 11 children, Fred Sasakamoose was forcibly taken from his community in central Saskatchewan to a residential school as a boy. As the first Treaty Status First Nations player to make it to the big leagues, he soon became a beloved icon in Indigenous culture. As treaty Indians, the family was registered u… Please log in to listen to this story. Mr. Sasakamoose would later go on to become chief of his First Nation and served his community for decades. At 16, Sasakamoose starred for the Moose Jaw Canucks of the Western Hockey League, winning the league MVP honours in 1953. "Fred Sasakamoose, was one of those people. Sasakamoose was one of 11 children, though only five survived childhood. Fred Sasakamoose, a residential school survivor and the first Indigenous NHL player, in the Vancouver Giants dressing room in Vancouver, on Sept. 19, 2013. The Strength of Canadian Indigenous Communities in the Face of Inequality, COVID-19: How the Crisis Can Call Us Toward Reconciliation With Indigenous Communities, Willie O’Ree, NHL’s First Black Player, Turns 85: Why This Living Icon Remains More Relevant Than Ever, BROWSE | HealthMoneyTravelFoodStyleBook Club, EXPLORE | #ZoomerDailyPolitics & PolicyArts & EntertainmentStars & RoyalsSex & Love, SUBSCRIBE | E-NewslettersSubscribe to Zoomer Magazine, EVERYTHINGZOOMER | AboutPrivacy PolicyTerms of ServiceAdvertise with UsContact Us, EverythingZoomer.com is part of the ZoomerMedia Digital Network. I’m ready to go.”, Neil remembered his father as a strong man and a champion of Indigenous culture. “The priests never talked twice,” he told the commission. Sasakamoose’s passing evoked an outpouring on social media, especially from family and friends in Saskatchewan who remember “Chief Thunderstick” not only for his trailblazing athletic achievements but also for the work he did supporting Indigenous Canadians in the province. Fred Sasakamoose, one of the first Indigenous players in the NHL, has died after battling a presumed case of COVID-19. Fred Sasakamoose survived the residential school system, became the National Hockey League’s first-ever Indigenous player, and inspired many with his stories of suffering and success. His story inspired other children, like Jordin Tootoo, who tweeted that Sasakamoose “paved the way and allowed us to believe in our dreams,” and Calgary Flames superstar Theo Fleury. Comments that violate our community guidelines will not be posted. It’s just amazing,” said Leach. Hardcover. “You will be greatly missed by our Indigenous communities,” Mr. Tootoo tweeted. Former NHL player Fred Sasakamoose was recognized with the Order of Canada in 2018 for his work in indigenous affairs. I'm a print subscriber, link to my account, Read more about following topics and authors. “He told people how important it was to keep their elders safe. “It will hurt forever.”. He was raised by his parents, Roderick and Judith “Sugil” (Morin), in a 6 m by 7 m log house on the reserve at Sandy Lake (now Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation), 72 km northwest of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. “Fred Sasakamoose was one of those people. That’s what it was all about.”. Hockey seemed to provide an escape from the horrors of the residential school in the 1940s, where he was ripped away from his family at a young age, was sexually abused by his fellow students and suffered severe punishments at the hands of his teachers. Fred Sasakamoose, a residential school survivor and the first Indigenous NHL player, in the Vancouver Giants dressing room in Vancouver, on Sept. 19, 2013. — Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) November 25, 2020 – I look in that dressing room of the Chicago Blackhawk. This is a space where subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff. Fred Sasakamoose, the 83-year-old former NHL player watches kids play hockey in the arena named after him on the Ahtahkakoop First Nation Saskatchewan, December 12, 2016. “After he survived the residential school system, after he made history as one of the first Indigenous players in … Rousell’s prophecy came true. Although his NHL career was brief, consisting of only 11 games, he was a true pioneer. Fred and about 30 other kids were driven five hours south to St. Michael’s Indian Residential School in Duck Lake, Saskatchewan. In 1944, Mr. Sasakamoose was invited to join the Duck Lake school’s hockey team and became its star player, eventually leading it to a provincial midget championship. © Copyright 2021 The Globe and Mail Inc. All rights reserved. This is a space where subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff. He was a pillar.”. “Years after he played hockey, people slowly resurrected him and propped him up on stage,” said his son, Neil. His play drew the notice of scouts and he signed with the Chicago Blackhawks (a team whose logo, ironically, is a profile of a Native American) and played his first game against the Boston Bruins in November 1953. Fred Sasakamoose, a Saskatchewan-raised residential school survivor who went on to play in the National Hockey League, died Tuesday at age 86 after being hospitalized with COVID-19. “Wow. “My gosh, I felt good,” he told the commission. A natural athlete, he quickly developed into a top-flight hockey player, starring for his residential school hockey team in Duck Lake. As Sasakamoose told his story, tears streamed down his face. He died Tuesday after being hospitalized due to COVID-19. The initiatives he undertook included setting up addiction services and a program to prevent family violence. Residential school Survivor. “I hope people don’t forget him,” his son, Neil, said by phone from Saskatoon on Tuesday night. “He was a remarkable man,” his son said. If you would like to write a letter to the editor, please forward it to letters@globeandmail.com. Neil said his father was taken to a local hospital on Friday because of breathing difficulties. Fred is a survivor of Canada’s Residential School system. Residential School survivor, NHL Alumnus, and fiercely proud Cree, Fred Sasakamoose, recently received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Saskatchewan. All of these descriptions are true--but none of them tell the whole story. He leaves behind an incredible legacy. He was 86. At 16, he was recruited to play for the Moose Jaw Canucks in the Western Canada Junior Hockey League and in 1953-54, his final season for that league, was voted the most valuable player in Western Canada. $24.00. He was 86. Testifying in 2012 before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which was set up to document the shocking abuses that occurred to Indigenous children placed in the residential school system, Sasakamoose recounted the damage the much-reviled school system had on his family and community. The schools… "Fred Sasakamoose was one of those people. He spent most of the next 10 years there, and at a 2012 hearing of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission recounted being raped by a group of boys when he was 9. Trailblazing Indigenous NHL hockey player Fred Sasakamoose dies of COVID-19 at age 86. by Craig Takeuchi on November 25th, 2020 at 11:45 AM. Sasakamoose's skills were first recognized by a priest in Montreal who became the sports director at the Indian residential schoolSasakamoose was attending. First Treaty Indigenous player in the NHL. Fred’s love for his community fuelled him to relentlessly push for greater access to the game of hockey and equal opportunity for Indigenous children. After being sent back to complete the season in Moose Jaw, he was called up again by Chicago for a Hockey Night in Canada broadcast against Toronto at Maple Leaf Gardens on Feb. 27, 1954. After his playing career wound down, Sasakamoose returned to Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation where he served as chief and member of the band council for the next three decades. Trailblazer. At the age of 79, Sasakamoose told the commission how he and another … Established in the 1880s, Canada’s residential school system was in existence for more than 100 years and resulted in a form of cultural genocide of Indigenous peoples, weakened family ties, and led to the loss of their pride and respect. Follow topics and authors relevant to your reading interests. Sasakamoose was one of 11 children, though only five survived childhood. At six years old, he was taken from his family and loaded into a truck with other Indigenous children and was driven five hours to the St. Michael’s Indian Residential School in Duck Lake. Former Philadelphia Flyers sniper Reggie Leach remembered being filled with pride as a young player when learning about Saskamoose’s story. “The second time, you got the strap.” He left the school as soon as he could, recalling that he told staff: “I’m going home to my mother.”, Leaving the school provided Sasakamoose with a new lease on life. Click here to subscribe. While his career in the NHL lasted only 11 games, he blazed a trail for future generations of Indigenous players. Fred Sasakamoose, a residential school survivor, became the NHL’s first indigenous player with treaty status when he skated for the Chicago Black Hawks in 1953-54(Photo/Courtesy Hockey Hall of Fame) and Getty Embed. Sasakamoose’s son Neil posted a tearful tribute to his father on Facebook last night, saying, “the COVID virus did so much damage into his lungs, his body just couldn’t keep up.” He said his father had accepted his fate, telling his son: “I’m not scared. Yesterday, Fred Sasakamoose, the first Indigenous player in the NHL, passed away at 86 from COVID-19. Fred Sasakamoose was at the residential school in Duck Lake for two years before he was allowed to come home for a visit. He grew up in Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation in central Saskatchewan, where his grandfather taught him to skate on a frozen lake and carved hockey sticks for him out of willow branches. Fred Sasakamoose, who became the first treaty status First Nations athlete to ever play in the NHL and later a champion of Indigenous culture, has passed away at the age of 86 due to complications from COVID-19. My condolences to all who are mourning his passing today. Former superstar and friend Bryan Trottier hailed him as “a pioneer, somebody looked at with First Nation blood who was an achiever, broke barriers.”. "Just imagine when … We hope to have this fixed soon. He was a role model to so many, and a trailblazer.”. Fred Sasakamoose Passes Away From COVID at 86; Residential School Survivor Became One of NHL’s First Indigenous Players Peter Muggeridge | November 25th, 2020 Former NHL player Fred Sasakamoose was recognized with the Order of … Hardcover $ 24.00. Sasakamoose was taken away from his mother as she cried, along with his nine-year-old brother, to attend a residential school. Sasakamoose grew up on the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation and was a residential school survivor. “A supremely talented player, his true impact to the game and our country came many years after his career was over. Sasakamoose has an autobiography scheduled to release in the spring of 2021, titled "Call Me Indian: From the Trauma of Residential School to … On top of that number 21 – ‘Sasakamoose’. That was his gift.”. 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