The Siksikaitisitapi or Blackfoot Confederacy is made up of four nations: Kainai – Blood Tribe, Piikani – North Peigan, Amskapi Piikani – South Peigan Blackfeet, and Siksika. The territory of the Siksikaitsitapi is located in the Northern Great Plains and goes from the North Saskatchewan River (north) to the Yellowstone River (south), from the Rockies (west) to the Great Sand Hills in Saskatchewan. There are approximately 24,000+ Siksikaitsitapi members. The Rural Routes to Climate Solutions (RR2CS) Siksikaitsitapi Agriculture Project (SAP) is an opportunity for Siksikaitsitapi members to highlight on-farm and on-ranch climate solutions (e.g. regenerative agriculture, farm energy efficiency, on-farm clean energy) on Blackfoot territory.
Through community gatherings, workshops and field days and a variety of communications tools (podcast, articles, etc.), the Siksikaitsitapi Agriculture Project establishes a platform where Siksikaitsitapi members can collaborate, share experiences, and make collective decisions on two key issues:
Once the on-farm and on-ranch climate solutions that meet the criteria have been identified by project participants, the next step for the project will be to explore, discuss and determine how to accelerate the adoption rates of these solutions in the Siksikaitsitapi. Once again, it will be project participants who will come together to determine the best path forward for increasing adoption.
The first phase of the Siksikaitsitapi Agriculture Project (2021-2022) brought attention to the challenges surrounding on-Nation farming and ranching for Siksikaitsitapi members that we were unaware of prior to the initial launch of the project such as barriers created by the Indian Act or the challenges accessing financial capital to expand or start an agricultural operation.
Phase 1 also taught us the importance of addressing health concerns and food security in addition to exploring culturally appropriate land management practices in agriculture. All of these learnings have been incorporated into the objectives of Phase 2, the Siksikaitsitapi Agriculture Project’s current phase.
Imagine a future where the land and waters are as strong and resilient as the Siksikaitsitapi. Now, imagine your voice helping to make that future a reality.
Rural Routes to Climate Solutions is inviting members of the Blackfoot Confederacy on November 20 to a Talking Circle — a chance to speak your truth and help guide solutions that reflect our connection to the land and our responsibility to future generations. Your voice, your stories and your knowledge can help create a path forward that honors both tradition and resilience.
Join us for a special Talking Circle event as we gather to explore the intersection of Nitsitapi paatapiisini (Blackfoot ways of knowing) and agriculture. This day-long event is an opportunity to listen, share, and discuss how traditional knowledge and sustainable practices can work together to support resilient agriculture and land management within the Blackfoot Confederacy.
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You never know what Mother Nature is going to dish out, whether it is going to be the good, the bad or the ugly, so being able to observe, learn and adapt can be just as handy as mechanical skills.
And now we have educational programs that blend Blackfoot ways of knowing and agriculture.
In this episode of Rural Routes to Climate Solutions, we are taking a look at the Red Crow Community College’s Niitsitapi Agriculture Certificate Program with JR Weasel Fat of Kainai, Alberta.
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If you’re still wondering how best to incorporate regenerative technologies into your daily operations then you might need a crash course, or at least a motivating podcast episode, that speaks to the business of bacteria. In this kick-off episode of the Siksikaitsitapi Agriculture Project podcast series, we sit down with Joshua Day Chief to discuss how growing good bacteria can recharge your soil, plant and water health to make way for producing a better product.
Norma Wolfchild, a member of the Blood Tribe, has spent nearly 20 years helping her community develop small business ventures, working with the Blood Tribe Economic Development as a small business development officer. After her husband was diagnosed with diabetes, she was determined to establish a healthier lifestyle with organic, nutrient-rich foods. She now has a thriving garden, a small horde of livestock and honey-producing bees.
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In this episode, knowledge holder Dr. Leroy Little Bear shares his work to restore the Iinnii. Little Bear sheds light on why this work is important, not only for the land but for the people and their connection with songs, ceremonies and stories centred around the Iinnii. He also highlights the importance of working together with the air, land, and water to foster the ideal environmental conditions we need to survive and thrive.
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Cattle ranching on the Blood Reserve can be a rewarding endeavour, however, it comes with challenges. Mike Bruised Head from Kainai shares his experience and how climate change has impacted his ranching.
