Vice Chief Lyle Whitefish was born in Paradise Hill, Saskatchewan to Peter and Albertine Whitefish. His maternal ancestry comes from the Pahtayken Family of Onion Lake First Nation. His paternal roots are from the Whitefish Family of the Big River First Nation. Most of his childhood was spent on the Big River First Nation were he attended school. As a young man, he spent many years working as a home builder on the reserve until he decided to attend university in 1990.

Vice Chief Whitefish graduated from the Indian Teacher Education Program at the University of Saskatchewan in 1994. He naturally returned home to teach for a couple of years and then was elected to council in 1996. He served a three year term and taught in the Northern Lakes School Division at the same time. Shortly after, he became a school Principal on Big River First Nation where he stayed until 2001. At that time, he was asked to represent the Agency Chiefs Tribal Council as a Tribal Chief until September, 2006.He and his wife Doris have raised four lovely children and have been blessed with two adorable grandchildren.