Blackfoot Confederacy

10/22/2026

Blackfoot Confederacy’s Guardians of the East Slopes joined relatives from across the Nations this week in He Sápa, the Black Hills of South Dakota, for the 12th Anniversary Gathering of The Buffalo: A Treaty of Cooperation, Renewal and Restoration.

The BuffaloTreaty was first signed in 2014 on the Blackfeet Reservation, with Blackfeet Nation, Kainai, Siksika and Piikani among the original signatory Nations. The living agreement brings Indigenous Nations together around a shared commitment to restore buffalo to the land and renew cultural, spiritual and ecological relationships with Iinnii.

For the Guardians of the East Slopes, that work is closely connected to their responsibilities throughout Blackfoot Territory. The Guardianship initiative centres Blackfoot knowledge and stewardship of the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains, including the protection of lands, waters, wildlife and culturally important places.

Their participation in this year’s gathering carries Blackfoot stewardship into a wider movement of Indigenous Nations working across borders to bring Iinnii home, care for the land and strengthen relationships that have existed for generations.

The 2026 gathering is being held October 20 to 22 and hosted on He Sápa territory by the Oglala Lakota Nation of the Great Sioux Nation, alongside the International Buffalo Relations Institute, NDN Collective and Tanka Fund.

Iinnii remains central to Blackfoot ways of life. The Buffalo Treaty carries that relationship forward through cooperation, restoration and renewal.

To learn more about The Buffalo Treaty and the Nations carrying this work forward visit www.buffalotreaty.com⁠

10/22/2026

Blackfoot Confederacy recognizes Tom Littlechild for more than four decades of service in fire, rescue and emergency response.

The recognition takes place alongside the Blackfoot Confederacy Multilateral Emergency Management Agreement All Leadership Forum, hosted by the Blackfoot Confederacy MEMA Sub Table on October 22, 2026 in Sikóóhkotok (Lethbridge).

The forum brings leadership, emergency management professionals and partners together to discuss emergency preparedness, operational readiness, critical risks and the future of coordinated emergency management across the Blackfoot Nations.

Tom’s career represents the type of experience and leadership at the centre of that work.

For more than 40 years, he has dedicated his career to protecting communities, strengthening First Nations emergency services and mentoring the next generation of firefighters. His leadership has included serving as Fire Chief in Maskwacis and as Fire Chief and Director of Emergency Services with Siksika Health Services, where he has served for the past 25 years.

Tom has also served as a First Nation Liaison Officer with Alberta’s Office of the Fire Commissioner and held leadership roles with the Aboriginal Firefighters Association of Canada and the Alberta chapter of the Fire Investigation Association.

He is one of only a small number of First Nation Safety Codes Officers in the fire discipline to hold the highest level of accreditation available. In 2014, Tom received the Governor General’s Medal for Fire Services Exemplary Service.

His contribution can also be seen through the people he has trained and mentored. Former students and firefighters from Siksika have gone on to become firefighters, officers, inspectors, investigators and fire chiefs across Alberta.

As Blackfoot leadership comes together to discuss stronger emergency management systems, community readiness and greater First Nations capacity, Blackfoot Confederacy recognizes Tom Littlechild for the decades of work he has already put into advancing those same priorities.

We acknowledge Tom for more than 40 years of service and for the knowledge, leadership and experience he continues to bring to our communities.

10/20/2026

Blackfoot Confederacy Chiefs Acknowledge Referendum Outcome And Strong First Nations Turnout

Blackfoot Confederacy Chiefs acknowledge the outcome of Alberta’s provincial referendum and thank Albertans, First Nations people, Treaty leadership and supporters who stood for Treaty and chose a future within Canada. Blackfoot Confederacy has maintained from the beginning that Alberta cannot make decisions about separation, constitutional change or the future of these lands while ignoring Treaty Nations. Blackfoot Treaty 7 predates Alberta and remains a binding Nation to Crown agreement. That position was defended publicly, politically and before the courts, where Alberta’s duty to consult First Nations was affirmed.

First Nations people across Alberta answered with their voices and their votes. Blackfoot Treaty 7 Chiefs stood together along with Treaty 6 and Treaty 8 throughout this process. Communities organized, shared information and encouraged their people to participate. Additional ballots were required in several First Nations communities after turnout exceeded expectations. At Siksika, the Deerfoot Sportsplex ran out of ballots and voting was extended, along with the Lavern community in Kainai-Blood Tribe. We thank every First Nations person who participated and every leader, advocate, ally and Albertan who stood beside Treaty Nations.

Most importantly, we thank our Blackfoot Nations that mobilized their communities and kept Treaty at the centre of this discussion. In the weeks leading up to the vote, Nations held information sessions, distributed voter information packages, shared regular updates and helped community members understand where, when and how to vote. We recognize the communications departments, administrations, transportation teams and staff across all three Nations who supported that work and helped get people to the polls. We also thank the on-reserve polling locations and election staff who worked throughout the day to support voters during exceptionally high turnout. Our people stood in long lines with patience and determination, and their participation showed the strength of the Blackfoot vote and the importance of making our voices heard.

That momentum must continue into Alberta’s next provincial election in 2027 and beyond. Blackfoot Confederacy expects Alberta to return to meaningful government-to -government engagement and resume the work paused during the referendum period. Our position remains clear. Treaty cannot be bypassed or treated as secondary to provincial political interests. First Nations made their voices heard, and Blackfoot Confederacy will continue to stand up for Treaty as long as the sun shines, the grass grows, and the rivers flow.

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Full Release and more information can be found here: https://blackfootconfederacy.ca/blackfoot-confederacy-chiefs-acknowledge-referendum-outcome-and-strong-first-nations-turnout/

10/19/2026

Woodhouse Nepinak emphasized that First Nations are foundational partners in the creation of Canada through historic treaties and agreements that cannot simply be ignored because of political disagreements.🇨🇦

10/19/2026

Today is Referendum Day. Over the last two weeks, our Stand Up for Treaty signs have made their way across Siksika, Kainai and Piikani, and throughout Mohkinstsis and the Calgary area. A big thank you to everyone who put up a sign, picked one up, shared our posts and helped spread the word. Now there is one thing left to do: vote.

Vote No to the Nine and vote Option 1, Remain, on Question 10. Blackfoot Nations and Blackfoot Treaty 7 were here before Alberta became a province, and our Treaty rights remain part of Alberta’s future.

Stand up for Treaty.

10/17/2026

Blackfoot Confederacy congratulates three Blackfoot inductees into the 2026 Indian National Finals Rodeo Hall of Fame: Jim Stevens of Siksika Nation, Donna Hoyt of Amskapi Pikuni and Dr. Steve “Doc” Williamson of Amskapi Pikuni.

Jim Stevens has dedicated nearly 40 years to rodeo. Beginning steer wrestling at 15, he went on to become a two time Canadian College Champion and achieved a lifelong goal as the 2022 INFR World Champion Steer Wrestler. Jim has also dedicated his time to mentoring youth and supporting his community and currently serves as Vice President of the INFR.

Donna Hoyt was raised in Browning with deep roots in ranching and rodeo. She helped establish the INFR’s first headquarters office in 2001 and became General Manager in 2005. Her years of service have helped create opportunities for generations of Indigenous rodeo athletes and strengthened the organization for those who continue to compete today.

Dr. Steve “Doc” Williamson is a Blackfeet Nation member and board certified family medicine physician whose contributions to the INFR extend well beyond the arena. In 2001, he reestablished the INFR medical team and helped grow it into the multidisciplinary Stetson Sports Medicine Team. He also launched the INFR Diabetes Awareness “Walk with Doc” program and continues to support the organization through its championship award ceremonies.

Jim, Donna and Doc were inducted into the INFR Hall of Fame on October 15, 2026, at the South Point Casino in Las Vegas.

Blackfoot Confederacy recognizes these three Blackfoot inductees for their decades of leadership, service and contributions to Indigenous rodeo.

10/16/2026