Blackfoot Confederacy Tribal Council participated in an initial meeting with the City of Medicine Hat administration on April 30, 2026 at City offices. This marked the first formal engagement between the Confederacy and the municipality and established a starting point for relationship building and intergovernmental dialogue.

Blackfoot Confederacy Directors and City leadership met to begin discussions focused on shared priorities, coordination, and long term collaboration. Medicine Hat carries a name rooted in Blackfoot language and history, derived from “Saamis,” loosely translated as “medicine man’s hat.” The meeting set a foundation for continued engagement and identified areas where both parties can move forward in a structured and respectful way.

The discussion formed part of a broader objective to work toward a formal Memorandum of Understanding. Both sides identified the fall as a potential timeline for a signing, contingent on the outcomes of ongoing discussions and alignment on key principles.

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Photo: Left to Right, Front to back

Front: Leah Prestayko (Acting Manager Director of Public Services), Genevieve Fox (Director of Education, Culture & Language), Councillor Yusuf Mohammed, Everette Fox, Marla Wolf Leg (Administrative Officer, Intergovernmental Relations), Kellie Grace (Indigenous Relations Coordinator), Xanthe Isbister (Curator of Galleries & Collections), Kimmy Shade (CEO, Blackfoot Confederacy Tribal Council)

Middle: Councillor Stuart Young, Councillor Cheryl Phaff, Elder – Leonard Weasel Traveller, Aaron Nelson (Acting Director of Community Development), Councillor Chris Hellman, Susan Solway (Housing Initiatives Officer)

Back: Elder Makiinima (Roy Fox), Kirby Smith (Director of Intergovernmental Relations), Chief Travis Plaited Hair (Kainai – Blood Tribe)