News
Blackfoot Confederacy Confronts Division and Advances Priorities in Premier Meeting
April 7, 2026 – The Blackfoot Confederacy Tribal Council met with Premier Danielle Smith and Ministers at the Westin Calgary Airport for its annual leadership meeting, held each year since 2017 under the Protocol Agreement—the longest running agreement of its kind with the Government of Alberta—focused on advancing shared priorities and reviewing annual progress. Hosted by Kainai (Blood Tribe), the meeting brought together leadership from all four Nations, including Amskapi Piikani Chairman Rodney Gervais, and was identified as productive, with continued commitment to strengthening Nation-to-Nation collaboration across key sectors.
Blackfoot Confederacy Receives Funding Through City of Calgary Indigenous Housing Program
Announced March 16, 2026, the program awarded $33 million to 16 Indigenous Nations and Indigenous-led non-profit organizations to support 24 projects that are expected to deliver up to 379 new non-market homes for Indigenous residents living in Calgary.
Blackfoot Confederacy Seeks Input from Its Members on Jordan’s Principle Access
The Blackfoot Confederacy, through Health Co-management (HCoM), has launched a survey specifically for its member caregivers who have accessed Jordan's Principle aiming to evaluate the program's implementation in Alberta. This anonymous 15-minute survey open until April 30, 2026, offers entry into a prize draw and will inform recommendations to improve service coordination for Blackfoot children and families.
2026 Blackfoot Confederacy Justice Symposium – registration
The Blackfoot Confederacy Third Annual Justice Symposium, “INNAIHTSIIYI – Our Sacred Treaties,” will take place April 21–22, 2026 at the Coast Lethbridge Hotel and Conference Centre, bringing together leadership, Elders, legal professionals, and community justice representatives to examine justice systems through Blackfoot Treaty perspectives. Registration is $150 per participant and includes symposium sessions, meals, and the evening banquet and youth showcase, with registration open until April 10, 2026 through Eventbrite. https://2026BFCJusticeSymposium.eventbrite.ca
Blackfoot Confederacy Tribal Council Welcomes Susan Solway as Housing Initiatives Officer
Blackfoot Confederacy Tribal Council has welcomed Naatowohkkaiyo (Susan Solway) to its team as Housing Initiatives Officer, bringing with her generations of leadership, community service, and professional experience grounded in Siksika and Blackfoot ways of knowing.
Blackfoot Confederacy and Samson Cree Nation Co Host IELCC Treaty First Nations Exchange
Blackfoot Confederacy Tribal Council, in partnership with Samson Cree Nation Head Start, co hosted the Treaty First Nations Information Exchange on Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care on February 9 and 10, 2026, in Mohkinstsis Calgary. Nearly 200 participants from Treaty 6, Treaty 8, the Blackfoot Confederacy, G4 Stoney Nakoda Tsuut’ina Tribal Council, Treaty 3, and Amskapi Piikani attended the two day gathering.
OKI COLLECTIVE | Issue 002 Community, Sovereignty, and Forward Momentum
Issue 002 of OKI COLLECTIVE highlights a season of Blackfoot leadership and progress, from the Confederacy Conference and Treaty rights court affirmation to health, economic development, Destination Blackfoot milestones, and community gatherings supporting Siksikaitsitapi youth. Together, these stories reflect a Confederacy moving forward with purpose, strengthening relationships, protecting sovereignty, and investing in future generations through Niitsitapi ways of knowing.
STATEMENT FROM THE BLACKFOOT CONFEDERACY CHIEFS ON ALBERTA SEPARATION
The Blackfoot Confederacy Chiefs state that Alberta separation has no authority over Blackfoot Nations, lands, or Treaty 7, which is a nation to nation agreement with the Crown that cannot be changed by provincial political action. They reject Alberta separation and assert that any discussion about Alberta’s future must fully recognize Indigenous sovereignty and require the consent of the Treaty Nations.
Information Regarding ICE and Your Rights for Blackfoot Confederacy Members
Issued on behalf of the Blackfoot Confederacy and the Jay Treaty Border Alliance, this notice outlines the rights of Blackfoot Confederacy members in interactions with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), including U.S.-born citizens and Canada-born members exercising Jay Treaty rights. It identifies lawful status, required documentation to carry, and key legal and federal contacts for rights support and verification.
Important TSA Update: Tribal IDs Remain Valid for Air Travel
On behalf of the JBTA (Jay Treaty Border Alliance) we're sharing recent information from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security about changes to airport security procedures starting February 1, 2026.
Fiction vs Fact: Alberta Métis Rights Assertions in Blackfoot Treaty 7 Territory-series 5
Week 5 focuses on The Metis Nation of Alberta using land acknowledgements and Crown agreements to claim a homeland inside Niitsitapi Territory, treating Blackfoot land as provincial space where modern recognition can replace ancient sovereignty. Niitsitapi Territory is the sovereign land of the Blackfoot Confederacy whose identity, law, and creation come from this place, and no agreement with the MNA can override the original authority of the Blackfoot people.
Fiction vs Fact: Alberta Métis Rights Assertions in Blackfoot Treaty 7 Territory-series 4
The Blackfoot Confederacy asserts that Treaty 7 is a living peace agreement with the Crown—never a land surrender—and that modern Métis “treaty” claims cannot be positioned alongside the foundational treaties that created Alberta. They emphasize that despite newer political agreements, southern Alberta remains Niitsitapi Blackfoot Territory, a truth upheld by Elders, knowledge keepers, and allied Métis voices who continue to speak with integrity and respect.