The Saskatoon Governance and Priorities Committee, made up of all council members, voted unanimously in favour of the motion to install a statue of Fred Sasakamoose at SaskTel Centre. He was one of the first Indigenous NHL players and played 11 games with the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1953-54 season. He passed away in November at the age of 86 due to complications from COVID-19.

The matter will go before the April 26th Saskatoon City Council meeting for final approval but in essence the project has the green light. The application was made by The Dakota Dunes Community Development Corporation , Battleford Agency Tribal Chiefs and Synergy 8 Community Builders. The statue would be donated by the group and is valued at around $180,000. Troy Davies with Synergy 8 says the statue will now be constructed and should be complete at the end of September.

The proposed location for the statue would be at the main entrance of SaskTel Centre opposite and facing the Gordie Howe statue. May 18th, also the day of the release of Fred Sasakamoose’s memoir, has been declared Fred Saskamoose Day.