CHRISTMAS FUND
Season is about being together, says Chief Crowchild
On behalf of the people of the Tsuut’ina, it is my sincere pleasure to wish all Calgarians and southern Albertans a Merry Christmas and best wishes for a peaceful and prosperous 2018.
The relationship of Tsuut’ina to our settler guests have made us close neighbours and the best of friends for many decades. So, let me introduce ourselves to those who may not be familiar. Tsuut’ina means “a great number of people.” We are descended from the Athapaskan-speaking people, which include the Navajo and Apache of the south and the Dene and Chippewa of the north. The Tsuut’ina are proud, and through our elders and oral historic memories, we have kept our traditions and culture alive. This culture is embodied in our symbol. A circle symbolizing the eternal continuity of life. The stretched beaver hide is a symbol of the Beaver people, and the two war bonnets represent the separation story of the Athapaskan and the Tsuut’ina people. The peace pipe means “peace with all people.” The broken arrow means “no more wars.”
Since the time of the signing of Treaty 7, we have watched Calgary grow, on our doorstep, until it now abuts our boundaries. We share many things in common with our neighbours — the geography, weather and hockey. of course, but we also share a love of Christmas traditions.
At Tsuut’ina, we celebrate Christmas with our families and friends, come together around a table to enjoy the quiet, thank Creation and each other for the blessings we enjoy, remember good moments, and watch the faces of children eagerly anticipating the exchange of gifts and wild unwrap- ping of presents.
A few days after, we come together as a community for the Tsuut’ina feast. Xakiji (Chief ) Big Belly followed Xakiji (Chief ) Bull Head, who was the Xakiji (Chief ) of Tsuut’ina during the signing of Treaty 7. Xakiji (Chief ) Big Belly not only inaugurated Tsuut’ina’s participation in the Calgary Stampede, he inaugurated the Christmas feast, where all Tsuut’ina citizens gather together to eat and mingle as one community.
The meaning of the feast between Christmas and New Year is to reflect on the year that has past, and usher in a new one together as a united people. After eating and drumming, four rifle shots are fired — north, south, east and west. That has a particular symbolism. We fire a shot toward the heavens in every direction to call upon those who have died during the year. We honour them and call on them to be with us as we usher in a new year focused on the strength of our families, our Nation and the commitment to the health and happiness of our young people.
2017 is a historic year for Tsuut’ina people. In 2017 we saw a major amount of construction on the southwest ring road. A road through our land that will create needed infrastructure for Calgary and traffic at Tsuut’ina that will feed a development creating jobs and opportunity for us for generations. As Xakiji (Chief ), I see the challenges that our people face as we continue to deal with a legacy of loss of land and the Indian Act. But I also see hope and opportunity. Our people are a strong and proud people. We are determined to preserve our Nation and its environment. We are determined to ensure that this generation builds on the strength and vision of Xakiji (Chief ) Bull Head to create a Nation that is strong and prosperous. We are determined to pass on the legacy of Xakiji (Chief ) Big Belly who recognized and enshrined the need for us to meet, eat, worship and act communally. And we are committed to the success and prosperity of future generations.
Personally, I am committed to breaking down the barriers that exist between Tsuut’ina and our neighbours in Calgary, Rockyview, and beyond. We need to overcome the barriers that have divided us historically, and work together to protect and enrich our shared environment. So, this Christmas, after you have celebrated, on Dec. 28, listen for those four rifle shots coming from Tsuut’ina. We will not only be calling upon our departed to help us move toward the future, we will be calling on our all our neighbours to join us in spirit as we wish for all the best, for all of us, in 2018.
Asch’asyałi Iyika Gwadanałi — Merry Christmas