Partners ● Aohpokohkimmaamaiksi

The Blood Tribe Department of Health and the Governors of the University of Lethbridge have partnered in a Memorandum of Understanding agreement to explore and co-create pathways that focus on enhancing opportunities for education, research, data collection, governance modelling and other professional training for the Blood Tribe.

The Blackfoot name for the project, Sokkinakia’pi, bestowed upon at a Saapihtsimaani (offering prayers with the pipe ceremony) and naming event held in Standoff on February 6th, 2024, is an “all-encompassing term that includes everything that has do with health,” explains Martin Heavy Head, Elder and Blood Tribe Department of Health Board of Directors Chair. “The word Sokkinaki is the verb ‘to heal or doctor’, and a’pi means ‘all that has to do with’. The full meaning of the word is ‘all that has to do with healing or health’,” says Heavy Head.

The purpose and aim of the Sokkinakia’pi Collaborative Project in Phase I & II is to build upon the existing Kainai Health Services Plan (2016 – 2025) to identify and/or reconfirm the health needs and resources for the Blood Tribe over the next 10 – 11 years (2024 – 2035).

The Kainai Health Services Plan sets out a vision of how and where the Tribe will develop its land and community supports/advancements based on data collection methods that will be led by the first all-Kainai research team within the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Lethbridge.

Addressing the Social Determinants of Health and honoring the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action will be integral components of this work. Ensuring community members are involved in identifying needs as well as participating in both the planning and delivery of service care will help facilitate the process.

The purpose and aim of Phase III is to apply and nurture the teachings, recommendations and actions brought forward in Phase I & II and work towards growth and sustainability as it relates to the health service provision for the Blood Tribe.

The overarching goal of the project is to expand capacity on the Blood Reserve to support access to high quality health care and health services, and to do so by increasing and creating new pathways for educating, training and preparing health professionals within the Blood Tribe community.

Areas of focus throughout all three phases will concentrate on:

• Self Determination/Reliance
• Governance
• Capacity Building
• Educational & Training Opportunities
• Research & Innovation

Collaborating in a supportive multi-phased partnership approach funded by the Mastercard Foundation, the Blood Tribe Department of Health and the University of Lethbridge will work towards growth and sustainability as it relates to health service provision on the Blood Tribe Reserve.

The intention of this collaborative approach is to cocreate a translatable model that infuses Siksikaitsitapi cultural notions and strengthens the voice and recommendations by and for community members to enable and align the creation/expansion of providing Federal and Provincial health mandates on the Blood Reserve.

Entrenched by a shared commitment, the Blood Tribe Department of Health and the University of Lethbridge partners envision this journey of co-creation to be rooted in shared values of humility, respect, honesty, kindness, collaboration and strength.