It has become increasingly necessary for Indigenous communities to carry out their own research to properly frame their needs and interests that better inform outcomes related to ecosystem health and community well-being as they are connected inextricably. Unfortunately, science and policy have not successfully addressed the anthropogenic impacts that have led to climate change and the displacement of the world’s biodiversity. Despite decades of sounding the alarm bells on climate and biodiversity, Indigenous Peoples continue to bear the brunt of these cumulative and cascading impacts. The lack of balance and extreme weather events along with rapid species extinction rates points to a lack of reciprocity led almost entirely by the industrialization and use of the world’s resources that Indigenous Peoples depend on to continue the sacred balance. For Siksikaitsitpai, this balance is known as Aatsimapii. This along with Pomakssin will support transformation and healing with the earth, the sky-beings, water-beings, land-beings and fire. Given that our ceremonies are inclusive of everyone, maintaining the original teachings from the sacred gifts of other-than-humans will ensure that relationships are rooted in respect and contribute to reconciliation with the earth along with Indigenous Peoples and the Crown.
Conservation will be advanced through training of Blackfoot Guardians in Blackfoot ways, Western science methods, enforcement of Blackfoot laws and current legislation and public
outreach and education. Baseline inventories of keystone flora and fauna species will be
conducted to determine restoration activities to be undertaken. Restoration of species that have been extirpated or listed on the Species at Risk Act (SARA), will be examined to
determine the feasibility for re-introduction and re-adaptation. Indigenous well-being will be
promoted through facilitating “hands on” learning on the land to continue traditional sustainable Blackfoot practices, ways of knowing and ceremony with youth, elders, knowledge holders, grassroots individuals and the general public, promoting food security and sovereignty and human health.
The Blackfoot Confederacy Office (BCO) is mandated by the four Blackfoot Nations and leads the work of the Hub under the direction of the Environment Department of the Siksikaitsitapi Society. Recognizing that each Nation is sovereign and distinct politically, collectively working on shared priorities, supports synergies and on-going consensus. To this end, the Hub provides a unique opportunity to bring the work of each Nation together to share lessons learned and mobilize actions and strategies. Self-governance is a vital determinant for self-determination and the Hub is grounded in Pomaaksin that is at the heart of Blackfoot being, valuing, knowing and doing. Cultural continuity is the basis of the Hub’s goals and objectives in ensuring that inherent Blackfoot treaty rights can be exercised in perpetuity. The rights-based approach provides an important platform for self-determination in environment, economics and socio-cultural realms. Providing real-time decision support tools of Niitsitapi knowledge, by, for and with Siksikaitsitapii connects youth, Elders and decision-makers that is much needed in this time of uncertainty regarding weather extremes and on-going loss of sacred species and places. Protecting our knowledge and ensuring that knowledge transmission and translation are supported by the ethics and values of Siksikaitsitapii.
