Siksika Nation Chief and Council Update

January 2021

General Business

  1. Food Donation Drive: Siksika Nation Chief and Council is organizing a Food Donation Drive for Siksika Nation members living in Siksika. Donations will be collected until January 28, 2021 at Siksika Trail Market and the Siksika Petro Gas Station. Proceeds of the food drive will go towards the community food bank.
  • SIKSIKA NATION EMERGENCY MEASURES AND CURFEW BY-LAW NO. 2020-01: Siksika Nation Chief and Council enacted the Siksika Nation Emergency Measures and Curfew By-law No. 2020-01 on January 4th, 2021. The By-law is enforceable by law and will remain in effect until COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted. The need for the Siksika Nation Emergency Measures and Curfew By-law No 2020-01 was identified during the previous Chief and Council term under the Public Safety Taskforce to protect Siksika Nation members on-reserve. Chief and Council worked closely with Siksika Nation Security, the RCMP and legal representatives. Under Section 8 of the Indian Act, Siksika Nation Chief and Council has the right to enact laws and by-laws for Siksika Nation. In March 2020 the COVID-19 Global Pandemic expedited the process and the current Chief and Council made a motion to approve the by-law which outlines the details including the implementation of the curfew, powers of peace officers, as well as preventative and protective measures including the closure of public buildings. The by-law can be viewed in its entirety on the First Nations Gazette website (fng.ca). Siksika Nation Chief and Council would like to recognize the work of Siksika Nation Security and Siksika Health Services who worked closely with Chief and Council to get this important piece of legislation passed. 

Old Sun Community College Board of Governors Update

Appointed:  Councillor Susan Solway, Councillor Armond Duck Chief

The Board of Governors held their monthly meeting virtually on January 12, 2021.  We continue to encourage all Governors to work from home as much as possible at this time. 

  1. COVID-19 Pandemic Update- As the Siksika Nation continues to be in a state of CODE RED, Old Sun Community College has followed the direction of the Nation and closed our campus until further notice. The Siksika Tribal Manager, CEO of Siksika Health Services, and other Siksika Managers continue to have executive briefings and updating all of us on this situation. Upon the recommendation of Siksika Health Services, it has been decided that the CODE RED will remain in effect until and OSCC will continue with on-line learning and a skeleton staff on campus; this action will be re-evaluated on a week to week basis. 
  2. The OSCC Annual Budget was submitted to Siksika Treasury on December 7, 2020. 
  3. December 8-9 2020, the Assembly of First Nations held the 41st Annual General Assembly virtually. Chief Crowfoot, OSCC Chairperson Susan Solway and Co-Chairperson Robert Breaker observed the assembly. With regards to post-secondary education, the following draft resolution was made: #23/2020 First Nations-Led Local, Regional and Treaty-based Post-Secondary Education Models. See link for more informationhttps://www.afn.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2020-AGA-Resolutions-Final-Formatted_EN.pdf  
  4. OSCC BOG Strategic Plan Update- The OSCC Quarterly progress report on the implementation of operations plans – Third Quarter (October to December 2020) has been updated to reflect works in progress.
  5. OSCC Elevator/Lift Project- The construction work on the OSCC Elevator/Lift has been completed. Access to the front of our building is now available and all safety codes and inspections are complete.
  6. OSCC Cafeteria Upgrades- Work continues on the OSCC Cafeteria upgrades. This project will be completed in February 2021, and depending on the COVID situation, we hope our next board meeting will take place in this location. 
  7. The next board meeting is scheduled for February 25th, 2021. 

Siksika Nation Family Services Corporation (SFSC) Board Update – JANUARY 2021

Chair:  Councillor Samuel Crowfoot, Vice Chair: Carlin Blackrabbit

  1. The Board of Governors held their monthly meeting virtually on January 22, 2021.  
  2. The SFSC Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Shareholders was conducted virtually on January 26, 2021. 
  3. Councilor Reuben “Buck” Breaker was appointed by the SFSC Board and Shareholders to sit on the SFSC Board of Directors. 
  4. SFSC Board of Directors recently formalized a new Audit Committee. The Audit Committee will meet on a regular basis to ensure compliance and timely submission of the audit. 
  5. The Shareholders at the AGM selected the Nation’s auditor to also serve as the auditor for SFSC.  
  6. As required by Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act (CYFEA), the Shareholders at their AGM confirmed Ms. Trudy Yellowfly as the Band Designate to advocate for and on-behalf of Siksika Nation children in various court actions.  A formal BCR with list of duties and scope of responsibilities is forthcoming. 
  7. At the AGM, the Shareholders also passed a motion hiring MNP to conduct an Organizational Review of SFSC.  The review will be presented to the Shareholders upon completion.

(Originally published in the January 2021 issue of Aitsiniki Newspaper)