Frederick "Chief Running Deer" Sasakamoose / Fred Sasakamoose with the 2018 Order of Canada.

In 1957 the Kamloops Indian Reserve paid tribute to Sasakamoose by making him Honourary Chief of the Kamloops Reserve, with the title “Chief Thunderstick”, alluding to his famous slapshot.

In 1977 Sasakamoose was elected band chief, an actual C.E.O. position, of the Atahkakoop Reserve, a position he held for four years.