Fred Saskamoose: Canada’s First Indigenous NHL Player

Fred Saskamoose, of Cree decent, grew up on Ahtahkakoop First Nation in Saskatchewan.

Now 85-years-old, Saskamoose became the first Indigenous hockey player in Canada to play in the NHL.

He played 11 games in 1953-54 for the Chicago Blackhawks. In 2017, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada.

Here is Fred Saskamoose’s story, and his hopes for the future: