Blackfoot Tech Council |

The Blackfoot Tech Council was formed in response to long-standing IT challenges in Siksika, specifically inequitable internet access and speeds, and recognition of our inherent strengths as Blackfoot people in the areas of information and communication technologies.
In the words of Chief Ouray Crowfoot, “First Nations people have been innovators in technology for millennia.” ~ Nioksskaistamik Ouray Crowfoot, Chief of Siksika Nation

The Blackfoot Tech Council is comprised of Siksika Nation’s technical specialists, the majority of whom are Siksika Nation members themselves, with participation from Siksika’s political, commercial, educational, health, cultural, and social services entities. We came together with a shared conviction that a coordinated effort by Siksika for Siksika, reflective of deep community understanding, is essential for the creation of a healthy digital ecosystem that will allow Siksika to thrive.

Our core operating principles include: open and honest collaboration; respect for local autonomy to develop appropriate and effective community-based solutions; resource pooling to support sustained services in an otherwise high-cost serving area; and sharing of expertise/knowledge to build local capacity and encourage local sense of ownership and initiative.

Grounded in these principles, we are able to achieve our objectives:

Increase capacity

  1. Build internal skills capacity through ongoing training and knowledge sharing.
  2. Build external skills capacity for those in the community through delivered programming.
  3. Develop services capacity so Siksika Nation can self-provide services wherever able.

Build infrastructure

Build and develop the required infrastructure needed for consistent high-speed broadband internet available to every single home, business, facility (and square-inch) on Siksika Nation.

Develop apps, technology and tech advancements that help the community

Understand, assess and develop tech solutions that address the community’s biggest challenges.

Encourage and support next gen tech leaders in the community

This includes expanding inclusion of women in tech as well as providing opportunities for new career paths for youth in Siksika.

Community & Collaboration

Create an intentional community of IT and tech related members to share and exchange ideas. We will continue to build collaboration with members. We are open to partnerships for mutual benefit and influence.

Our Values |

Be the Bridge
Be the bridge that connects people, connects ideas and opportunities. We work in collaboration and work towards equity for our community.
Past and Future Together
Information Technology and Communication are ever evolving and growing fields, so we must focus on continual learning. We also honour the knowledge from the past and its ability to guide the future. Before we overcome any challenge we must first understand it.
Shared Impact
We are open, honest and transparent. We work as a group and share ideas and data so we can achieve our objectives together.

About Siksika Nation

Siksika Nation (“Siksika”) is a First Nations reserve in Southern Alberta, Canada. It has a land area of 696.54 km2, making it the second-largest First Nation in Canada in land base, and a total population of ~ 8,000 members. Siksika are a part of the Blackfoot Confederacy which also consists of the Piikani and Kainaiwa of Southern Alberta, and the Blackfeet in the State of Montana. Siksika is located ~90 kilometres (54 mi) southeast of Calgary and is inhabited by members of the Siksika Nation. It is bordered by Vulcan County, Wheatland County, and the County of Newell, and is located at an elevation of 857 metres (2,812 ft). The Administrative and Business districts are strategically located adjacent to the Town of Gleichen to accommodate commercial and visitor traffic.