BLACKFOOT CROSSING, BLACKFOOT TERRITORY — On April 29 and 30, 2026, the Blackfoot Confederacy Tribal Council convened the Blackfoot Guardians Gathering 2026 at Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park under the theme Aiskska’tsii’p Ksahkomm – Protecting the Land. The two-day gathering brought together Guardians, Elders, youth, leadership, and partners to advance a coordinated Blackfoot approach to stewardship grounded in Niitsitapi knowledge, authority, and responsibility.

The gathering opened with Saapsstsimaa, an offering of prayer with the pipe, setting direction for the sessions that followed. Blackfoot Confederacy Chiefs provided opening remarks alongside presentations from Guardians leads and Parks Canada. Discussions confirmed that Guardians programs operate as a direct expression of Blackfoot law and presence on the land, with increasing coordination across all Nations.

Presentations throughout the gathering addressed both strategic direction and active work on the ground. National Guardians frameworks were outlined alongside Blackfoot led conservation priorities, including the development of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas. Research on environmental change in Paahtómahksikimi and regional updates from the eastern slopes and mountain parks detailed ongoing work in grassland monitoring, watershed protection, species restoration, and land-based stewardship. The keynote presentation, Bending Spacetime in Blackfoot, by Siksika Nation member Corey Gray, reinforced the application of Blackfoot knowledge systems within broader scientific contexts.

Day two focused on water and wetlands systems, with presentations on drinking water initiatives, beaver and wetlands restoration, and watershed level challenges in the Oldman region. An Elder and youth panel closed the gathering, emphasizing intergenerational responsibility and the continued transfer of knowledge required to sustain Guardians work across the Confederacy.

Blackfoot Confederacy Tribal Council acknowledges all those who contributed to the success of the gathering, including presenters, Elders, youth, Guardians, and participants from across the Nations. Recognition is extended to Blackfoot Confederacy staff for coordination and delivery, and to the staff at Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park for hosting and supporting the event.

The Blackfoot Guardians Gathering 2026 confirmed continued alignment across the Confederacy. Guardian’s programs remain a central mechanism for asserting Blackfoot jurisdiction and ensuring the land, water, and ecosystems are protected through Niitsitapi governance systems.