Siksika Nation Memorandum of Understanding: Collaborating on Programs and Services

With a traditional exchange of blankets, words of appreciation and signed documents, the Canadian Red Cross (CRC) and Siksika Nation formally agreed to collaborate and explore the delivery of programs and services together.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by Conrad Sauvé, CEO and President of the CRC, and Siksika Chief Ouray Crowfoot in a ceremony at the Nation’s Council Chambers in November 2021. Jenn McManus, CRC vice president for Alberta and the Northwest Territories, also read aloud some highlights of the MOU at the ceremony.

With the MOU, the Red Cross aspires to collaborate and engage with Siksika Nation, by invitation, to develop emergency management practices, which include mitigation, preparedness, resiliency, response, and recovery activities. The agreement also envisions creating safe environments, engaging Nation members as trained and supported volunteers and leaders, and health innovation including mental health supports, and safety and wellbeing.

“On behalf of the Canadian Red Cross, it’s a real pleasure to be here...As we all know, while it’s one thing to respond in times of need, we all need to work on being prepared too,” said Sauvé.
Chief Crowfoot responded: “We look forward to this as the beginning of a lot more work together. For many years, we know people have tried to predict or contain Mother Nature. But as a First Nation, we know that we can’t contain her, so we have to be prepared. We look forward to working with you.” 

The Red Cross also donated an office trailer that has been used by the Nation since the 2013 southern Alberta floods when Red Cross personnel worked effectively together with Nation members to assist during an unprecedented time of need.

Since then, the Red Cross has collaborated and assisted the Nation with other emergencies, events, and programming, such as the Indigenous Swimming and Water Safety program. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Red Cross has also offered support to the Nation through the Help Desk for Indigenous Community Leadership.
 
Siksika Nation is part of the Blackfoot Confederacy which also consists of the Kainai/Blood and Piikani Nations.

Siksika and its sister Nations are part of Treaty 7, which also includes the Stoney Nakoda First Nation and Tsuut’ina First Nation. Former Grand Chief of Treaty 7 Chief Charles Weaselhead originally had the vision for collaboration with CRC to build capacity, partnership, and information exchange. For more than 20 years, the CRC and Kainai Nation have also had an active MOU, and CRC volunteers on the Nation. The Kainai agreement is one of CRC’s longest-standing MOUs with a Nation in Canada.