First ever Indian Village Princess reflects on special occasion

Placing first at anything is always something extra special. Just ask Gloria Littlelight, who was raised by her Tsuu T’ina parents, the late Joseph and Dora Big Plume.
In 1965, Littlelight was selected as the first-ever Indian Village Princess for the world-famous Calgary Stampede. It was a year of honours as she also won the Sarcee Ladies Barrel Racing title and the Sarcee Rodeo Princess title. The year before, she took home the “most outstanding girl award” for barrel racing. Mentored by her late grandfather, Alex Bull, and her friend Arthur OneSpot, she was always encouraged to “go for it,” she said.

Just 18 years of age, Littlelight was fresh out of high school at Henry Wise Wood in Calgary. Graduating from high school in the ’60s was a rarity for many First Nations children so her accomplishment was notable. A somewhat shy and reserved youngster, her passion at the time was rodeo - especially barrel racing at which she excelled.

Upon earning the Stampede Village Princess title, she led Grand Entry for rodeos at Siksika, Piikani, and Morley.
“Sarcee was the best,” she said, “because I won the Sarcee Rodeo and Alberta, too.” Of course the wins were extra special because it was done in front of her home audience.

In tracing events during her reign with the Indian Village, Littlelight recounted having to sit with Alberta music icon Ian Tyson in the Big Four Building. Throughout Stampede Week, she worked the Indian crafts display in the Big Four and answered questions from visitors. Her runner-up, Donna Weasel Child, became Princess the next year. Littlelight made a number of appearances and speaking engagements including at rodeos, the Sarcee Band Hall, the Calgary Métis Association annual general meeting, and crowned the Calgary Indian Friendship Centre princess.

Reflecting on her younger years in the Indian Village, she said, “Tipi owners received food rations such as flour, baking powder, potatoes, tea, lard and meat roast (likely from the Stampede’s own cattle herd). Every tipi got gate passes that were also good for the rodeo, chuckwagons and the grandstand show.”

Sometimes, she was required to parade on horseback in front of the grandstand before the rodeo began.

“I was introduced to the crowd at those times,” she said.
The year following her reign, she worked at the local army base, got married, returned to school at Mount Royal College to improve her secretarial skills and was then hired by Petro Canada.

In later years, Littlelight experienced a close brush with death after a serious highway collision in southern Alberta during a snowstorm. Today, she feels extremely fortunate to still be around. She will not ever forget that accident but she will still remember, vividly and fondly, her term as the first Indian Village Princess - something that her loving children and grandchildren still ooh and aah about. And, something nobody can ever take away from her.