Herbert Strongeagle facts for kids

Herbert Strongeagle (born in 1934 or 1935) is seen as a hero in his community. People say he helped "break the old ideas and myths about Native people that hockey and the media often showed." In 2006, he received the First Nations Lifetime Achievement Award in Saskatchewan. When he was younger, he won the Tom Longboat Medal as the Best Indian Athlete in Saskatchewan. This was for his great skills in junior baseball, midget and juvenile hockey, track and field, and basketball. He kept getting awards from his community throughout his life for all his contributions.

Understanding Indigenous History

It's really important to learn about the history of Indigenous Peoples in Canada. This includes understanding what happened with residential schools. For a long time, not much was written down about their history. This is because a powerful culture tried to make Indigenous cultures disappear. This means it can be hard to find information. Also, when old documents are put online, things that are copyrighted or not from the main culture often get left out. This can feel like a new kind of control. That's why you might not find many regular sources for this information.

Herb's Early Life

Herb Strongeagle was born in 1934 or 1935. He is from the Pasqua First Nation, which is near Cowichan Bay, B.C. Some reports say he was from Piapot, and the Cowichan News Leader mentioned he had "a simple start in Fort Qu’Appelle, Sask."

His School Days

Herb Strongeagle went to the Lebret Industrial School for 12 years. He started there when he was only 5 years old. This school was also known as Qu'Appelle Indian Residential School. It was located outside Lebret, Saskatchewan. The school was run by a group called the Oblates, who looked after the boys. The Grey Nuns helped by looking after the girls.

In 1948, St. Paul's High School opened at the Indian School. Sports were a very important part of these residential schools. They were used to try and make Indigenous students fit into the dominant culture. Lebret, for example, had "amazing sports programs" and produced many talented athletes. Herb Strongeagle was one of four students from this school to win the Tom Longboat Award. This award was created by Indian Affairs and the Amateur Athletic Union of Canada. Other winners from the school included George Poitras (1957), Gerald Starr (1954), and Arthur Obey (1951 and 1960). Students also used sports and games to help them get through their time at the school.

Here are some things Herb did at school:

• He played as a right winger on the midget and juvenile hockey teams.
• As part of the Juvenile hockey team, he played against the Regina Pats in the Saskatchewan finals. This was in 1952. He played with another Tom Longboat winner, Art Obey.
• He was a member of the Lebret IR School Band.
• In 1952, he earned his Master Cadet Certificate.
• He graduated from St. Paul's Indian High School in 1953.
• In 1959, he was chosen as Treasurer for the new alumni association for St. Paul's Indian High School. This group was called Lebret Indian High School Alumni. Gerald Starr, another Tom Longboat Award winner, was appointed vice-president at the same meeting.

Herb Strongeagle played sports with Art Obey. George Poitras and Gerald Starr were also at the school and playing sports around the same time.

After high school, Herb went to Saskatoon Business College. Then he attended the University of Ottawa, where he earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1973. While at university, he wrote an article for the student newspaper, The Carleton. Later, he received his Life Insurance License from the Insurance Councils of Saskatchewan.

His Sports Career

Sports were a big part of Herb Strongeagle's life. In 1948, Father Paul Piechet introduced the first native high school and sports programs. "Every boy in that first 1948 high school class...was on the hockey team," including Herb. The Qu’Appelle team's sweater looked like the Montreal Canadiens' jersey. Instead of the "CH" logo, they had an "Indian head" on the front. The Saskatchewan Hockey Association called the team the Lebret Indians. Other names used were Lebret Pucksters or Lebret Eagles.

Here are some of Herb's sports highlights:

• In 1952, his team won first place in the Qu'Appelle Valley Intermediate Hockey League. They were known as the Q.V.H.A Champions.
• He played first base for the Sioux Indians baseball club.
• The Fort Qu'Appelle Sioux Indian hockey team was mostly made up of Lebret graduates. They won the Intermediate "C" Champions in 1956-57 and 1958. Herb played when they "won the provincial crown in 1957."
• He played on the Fort Qu'Appelle Sioux Indians baseball team in 1961 and 1962.
• He continued to play hockey while attending the University of Ottawa.
• After getting his commerce degree, Herb kept playing hockey with the Raymore Rockets.
• He also played in an Old-Timers tournament. He was on the Badgerville Screaming Eagles team, which was later called the Badgerville Wagonburners.
• In 1981, Herb "flew in from Vancouver" to play with the Chiefs in an Old Timers Hockey Tournament in Anaheim, California.
• He owned a racehorse named Dainty Traveller. This horse won the F.L. Marks memorial race in 1976 in Saskatoon.

His Family Life

Here is some information about Herb Strongeagle's family:

• He is married to Joyce Munn. One of her children is the famous musician Colin James.
• His grandfather on his father's side was Strongeagle, who was a medicine man.
• His grandfather on his mother's side was Pat Cappo.
• His parents, Moses and Edna, were married in February 1934. He had about 11 siblings, including five sisters.
• Herb is a father of five children.
• He received a headdress from his Uncle John James Cappo.
• He was present at the World Assembly of First Nations in 1982.

His Career Path

Herb Strongeagle had a long and varied career:

• He managed the Kinookimaw Resort.
• He worked "with Regina's Co-op Oil Refineries" while playing for the Fort Qu'Appelle Sioux Indians hockey team. This team won the provincial championship in 1957.
• He held many "management and finance positions" in different places. These included Federal and Provincial Government Departments, First Nation Reserves, and the Saskatchewan Indian Federated University College.
• From 1986 to 1998, he was a scout for the Regina Pats WHL team.
• From 2002 to 2005, he was a scout for the Vancouver Canucks NHL team.
• Around 2005, he was part of the management team for the Halaw Group.
• In 2007, he was reported as being the President of the Aboriginal Financial Services Corporation. He was also a Director of Many Nations Benefit Cooperative Ltd. He was also "the first lay-bencher for the Law Society of Saskatchewan."
• Also in 2007, he was the "Executive Director of Finance and Administration of the Institute of Indigenous Government in Vancouver, BC." He was also on the "AFN Indian Residential Schools Advisory Committee."
• He was an Honorary Chair when he helped bid for the 2017 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships.
• Herb Strongeagle "has spent more than 30 years helping First Nations organizations." He helped them keep good financial records, complete audits, and create business plans for their businesses and economic projects.

Awards and Recognition

Herb Strongeagle has received many awards for his achievements:

• In 1953, he won the Tom Longboat Award. This award celebrates amazing First Nations athletes in each province. National male and female winners are chosen from these provincial winners. Herb received the Regional award at age 19 for his skills in Track and field, Hockey, Baseball, and Basketball.
• He was inducted into the Fort Qu'Appelle Fire Department Hall of Fame.
• In 1996, he was inducted into the Rural Sports Hall of Fame in Indian Head, Saskatchewan.
• In 1997, he was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame, First Nations, Saskatchewan. He was part of the second group of people to be honored.
• In 2006, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award, First Nations, Saskatchewan.