Alex Decoteau

Biography Decoteau was born on the Red Pheasant Indian Reserve in the District of Saskatchewan on November 19, 1887. One of five children, he was the son of Peter Decoteau, who was Métis and Marie Wuttanee, who was Cree. His father, who fought alongside Plains Cree Chief Poundmaker at Battle of Cut Knife in 1885, was an employee of the Indian Department when he was murdered in 1891. With no way to support the family, Decoteau's mother arranged to have the children admitted to the Battleford Industrial School. It was as a student at the school that he first demonstrated an aptitude for athletics.

Decoteau worked as a farm-hand prior to moving to Edmonton where he worked for his brother in law David Latta as a blacksmith. His sister Emily and Latta, a business man and one-time Edmonton alderman, had married in 1899 and Decoteau initially lived with the couple upon his arrival to the city. Decoteau was promoted to sergeant in 1914.

Running career While in Edmonton he won numerous western Canadian major middle- or long-distance races. He completed his first race on May 24, 1909, placing second in the one-mile competition.

Decoteau competed in the 5,000 metre race at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden, serving as the only representative from Alberta on the Canadian Olympic team.

World War I Influenced by his father's involvement with the North-West Rebellion in 1885, Decoteau enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in April 1916. He first served with the 202nd Infantry Battalion before moving on to the 49th Battalion. Decoteau trained at the Sarcee military training camp, near Calgary, Alberta, from June to October 1916 before being set sail for England.

Decoteau continued to run competitively while stationed abroad, participating in at least two military personnel athletic competitions. A future residential area in southeast Edmonton was named Decoteau on October 28, 2014.

Alex Decoteau will be honoured in with a commemorative blue plaque in Flanders, Belgium, close to where he died. The plaque will be unveiled on Indigenous Veterans’ Day on 8 November 2024.