Uncommons with Nate Erskine-Smith Sports, Sovereignty, and Reconciliation
Dec 15, 2025
Willie Littlechild and Ava Hill, both prominent Indigenous leaders, dive into the vital link between sports and reconciliation. Willie shares his harrowing residential school experience and how hockey became a lifeline. Ava discusses her advocacy for Indigenous youth through sport and her leadership in cultural initiatives. They propose a sports declaration to ensure Indigenous participation in major events and tackle issues of tokenism and racism in sports. Their conversation ultimately emphasizes the need for real partnership and education to advance reconciliation.
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Hockey As Rescue And Purpose
- Willie Littlechild described being taken to residential school at age six and finding hockey at 14, which he says "saved my life."
- He later used sport to attend college, play internationally, and found major Indigenous games to heal communities.
Calls To Action Over Recommendations
- The TRC reframed thousands of past recommendations into 94 actionable Calls to Action to force implementation.
- Willie emphasized calls to action (not recommendations) because previous studies produced no meaningful follow-through.
Local Declaration To Global Movement
- Ava Hill and Willie co-authored a sports-focused declaration starting with a regional Muscoachese declaration and expanded it internationally.
- The idea grew from a local chiefs' declaration to adoption by UN forums and the Commonwealth Games Federation.