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215 There are times when I am left at a loss on what to say. They are few and far between but this is one of those times. Traveling to Kamloops with a retired Vice President of a bank we had the chance to talk. Talking about where do we put our feelings, What do …

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Talk to Newcomers

Here’s a short clip from a video Sam Nammoura took of my speech at Central Library as part of Immigrants Legacy, hosted by Centre for Newcomers and Calgary Public Library. (posted on Facebook) From the Talk … wave of immigration. Someone said,  “Well,  the First Nations welcomed us onto the land here.” I don’t know …

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How Can We Make It Better?

Talk to Rotary Club of Calgary I gave this talk  to the Rotary Club in Calgary at the ROTARY HOUSE  on September 5th, 2019.   Listen or read the full speech below. Good afternoon. The formal way I introduce myself is: “Sizi Xakiji Cha Di Nidi K’azi” So what does that mean? Xakiji, means “Chief”. …

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Welcome to the Sovereign Land of Tsuu T’ina

Talk to the Ahmiddiyah Muslim Convention, August 24, 2019 Welcome to the sovereign land of Tsuu T’ina. I would say about 99% of you have never been on our land. We are a sovereign nation. Canada exists within all First Nations’ land. We allow that to happen. I’ve worked with, and talked with, many Muslim …

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Personalizing Treaty

My talk at the Assembly of First Nations in Edmonton, May 2019. I was speaking as part of a panel titled “International Treaties and the Inherent Right to Self-Government”. I want to thank the people whose land I’m standing on for giving me the opportunity to speak to you all. Now I’m not the expert on …

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Tsuut'ina Vision of Shared Future

We are all intertwined, braided and bound, like Sweetgrass to forge a new future across different backgrounds and borders – together. Each and every one of our members deserves the same opportunity, to have access and be engaged in a future that offers freedom, wellness, education, prosperity, and dignity – a future that levels the …

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What is TsuuT’ina about?

Taken from a recent talk at the Forward Summit in Calgary.  The talk was accompanied by a slide show, and some of the slides are included here. “Good morning to you all here. It’s kind of like school all over, all the bad ones are sitting in the back. You guys, if you want to …

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Dinner with Calgary Mayor and Council

My welcome remarks: Siyisgaas – thank you. Thank you Kendall, Thank you Elders for being with us tonight, Elder Big Crow for your blessing, Mayor Nenshi and all of you for coming to Tsuut’ina to be with us tonight. One of our colleagues from Lakeview sent me some photos from the 1920’s – they were …

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The Nihisgaka Ogha Dinner Series

The genesis of Nihisgaka Ogha– For our Children – “When I became Chief, it was important to me to open the window in the wall between our nation and our neighbours. Though we have a long history living side by side, we really don’t know each other. So we felt it important to come together …

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