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 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.