Blood Tribe Department of Health Inc.

Published purpose

This 25-month project will support a feminist response and recovery from the current impacts of COVID-19, through systemic change. Blood Tribe Department of Health Inc. will achieve this by delivering learning sessions on pre-colonial gender norms and values to increase knowledge about Siksikaitsitapi women and their revered status in Blackfoot culture; promoting cultural healing through Elder-led trainings and workshops rooted in Siksikaitsitapi language and traditional practices; providing safe space platforms for Indigenous women, men, and 2-spirited individuals to share perspectives on gender-based violence and to honor each other’s identities, roles, and contributions; and hosting a community gathering to disseminate project learnings, facilitate further healing, and celebrate the longevity of Siksikaitsitapi culture. At the end of the project, the organization will have contributed to addressing systemic barriers by addressing persistent harmful gender norms and attitudes to support women’s equality. Community engagement will be far-reaching and will focus on the involvement of Indigenous leaders, women, men, and boys in forging pathways to combat the harmful impacts of colonial oppression which have exacerbated gender-based inequality and violence during the pandemic. Existing community partnerships with Kainaiwa Board of Education, Red Crow Community College, Blood Tribe Recreation and Parks, and Blood Tribe Housing will be leveraged to enhance shared collective responsibility and sustainability of the project’s outcomes.