Â鶹ÊÓƵ

Grand Chief Willie Littlechild (L) and Bob Steadward (R). Photo supplied

In a deeply emotional ceremony at Maskwacis, Robert Steadward — founder of The Steadward Centre for Personal & Physical Achievement and a pioneering force in inclusive sport and physical activity — was gifted a Cree name and presented with an honorary headdress, recognizing decades of impact supporting Indigenous communities and people living with disabilities.

Surrounded by elders, community leaders and colleagues, Steadward was named Paskwâwi-Mostos Pimohtêwin (Chief Walking Buffalo)— a title that acknowledges not just his leadership, but his lifelong commitment to walking alongside communities with humility and purpose.

“I was completely shocked,” said Steadward. “I had no idea it was coming. One moment I thought I was helping wrap up a pipe ceremony, and the next I was being invited to the centre of the circle and honoured in a way I never imagined. It was incredibly emotional. I felt this wave of humility, gratitude and reflection for all the people who’ve walked this path with me.”

Longtime friend and former classmate Grand Chief Willie Littlechild presented the headdress, handcrafted and colour-matched to a custom ribbon shirt. “Willie and I have known each other nearly 60 years,” said Steadward. “He’s been a constant force for justice, healing and Indigenous rights. To receive this honour from him, and from the community of Maskwacis, is something I will carry for the rest of my life.”

Steadward’s connection to Indigenous communities deepened over the past decade through a shared concern about the high incidence of disability in Indigenous populations. In 2017, he helped initiate a national research project in partnership with Tricia McGuire-Adams and community leaders including Laurie Buffalo and Grand Chief Littlechild, exploring the experiences of Indigenous Peoples living with disability. That project led to powerful presentations, publications and ultimately the recent gathering of the ISR (Inclusion, Sport, and Recreation) Collective at Maskwacis, where the honouring took place.

“When we presented our findings at the community level, the response was overwhelming,” Steadward said. “But what stayed with me most was the openness, the generosity and the call to keep going. That’s what led to the ISR Collective — to make sure the work doesn’t stop.”

As a global leader in adapted physical activity and the founding president of the International Paralympic Committee, Steadward has been honoured with numerous awards, including the Companion of the Order of Canada, six Hall of Fame inductions and the King Charles III Coronation Medal. But this honour, he says, is different.

“Of all the recognitions I’ve received in my lifetime, this stands alone. It’s not just symbolic — it’s spiritual. It’s rooted in connection and responsibility,” he said.

The honour reflects not only Steadward’s individual contributions, but also the values he has instilled in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation — values of Indigenization, inclusion, equity and collaboration. Through The Steadward Centre and the faculty’s academic and community programs, generations of students and practitioners continue to learn how to build accessible and welcoming spaces for everyone.

“No one achieves anything alone,” Steadward emphasized. “Everything I’ve done, every step forward — it’s been because of a team. The people who believed in inclusion before it was a buzzword, the athletes, the students, the staff and the community members who showed us what’s possible when we truly listen and work together.”

This summer, Steadward will return to Maskwacis for a traditional Cree wedding, where he will wear his headdress with pride and humility. “It’s not just a ceremony,” he said. “It’s a relationship. And relationships are the heart of everything we do in this faculty, and in this life.”