Building relationships and understanding

By Deirdre Mitchell-MacLean Times Contributor

The Town of Strathmore and Siksika Nation are moving forward on building relationships and understanding.
On Nov. 15, representatives from the town and Siksika met at Blackfoot Crossing to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU). The MOU has been under development for several months.
Talks between Strathmore town council and Siksika Nation council began eight months ago, after the tragic death of Kristian Ayoungman brought grief to both communities. Through the oft-mentioned strength of Kristian’s mothers, Melody and Louise, it also offered an opportunity to heal – together.
“We had a vigil (for Kristian) at Kinsmen Park and it was great to see the communities come together,” Ruben (Buck) Breaker told the audience during the signing ceremony. “Mayor Pat Fule and Denise Peterson were there, and we said, let’s meet and address the racism so we don’t have incidents like that again. A week later, we came together, and the talks started.
“We are working on a strategic plan that makes the commitment between both communities and governments so our communities can live together without fear,” added Breaker.
Fule and Strathmore town councillors Peterson, Bob Sobol and Jason Montgomery were all in attendance for the signing.
“It was a tragic event that took place,” Fule said. “It was the impetus to start working together.
“We want to improve the situation when our neighbours come to Strathmore. When people said they had fear coming into our town, I thought the last thing I would want is people visiting us to be afraid; we want them to feel accepted and comfortable.”
Peterson, who gave thanks for having been welcomed on Siksika for many years, also thanked Kristian’s family and the Siksika elders for their many sacrifices. “I, like Mayor Fule, agree that it was the right people in the right place at the right time,” Peterson said. “I want to make the assurance that the signing today will have the staying power; like Crowfoot’s signing of Treaty 7.”
The official welcoming and opening prayer was delivered, in Blackfoot, by Francis Wolf Leg.
A common theme throughout each speaker’s stories was the unifying kinship of sport. Kristian was a hockey player and many of the speakers played hockey, slow-pitch or another sport that brought a sense of shared community to the players and the teams.
Wolf Leg described how a momentous occasion, such as the signing, would be added to a Winter Count.
“We had scribes in our past; my grandfather, Joe Little Chief, was one. Great happenings, such as the flood of 2013 or today,” Wolf Leg explained, “would have been transcribed onto a buffalo hide and put away for future reference.”
Bradford Little Chief also spoke.
“We all breathe the same air and drink the same water and we want to make life better for our children. It was an honour to work together with everyone on this,” he said, “I look forward to the future and many good winters.”
The MOU only signifies the commitment that began eight months ago. It is a starting point and a promise to continue to work together and find ways to keep building the relationship between Strathmore and Siksika governments, communities and people. Copies of the memorandum will be on display at both the town office and Siksika council, and also on the Town of Strathmore website.