Our Partners
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Oki! At Siksika Health Services, our partners are integral to our work and our ability to provide quality healthcare for Siksika Nation and beyond. We are grateful to our many partners who share in our vision for healthy people, families, communities today, and for the coming seven generations.

Memorandums of Understanding (MOU)

Where appropriate, partnerships may be formalized with a Memorandum of Understanding – a modern-day agreement that outlines commitment to work together towards common goals and shared impact.

Jordan’s Principle

The Memorandum of Understanding on implementation of Jordan’s Principle in Alberta is signed by First Nations partners, the Government of Alberta and the Government of Canada to ensure that First Nations children in Alberta can access the supports and services they need, when they need them.

The First Nations Health Consortium (FNHC) partner organizations partnered in the development of an unending Memorandum of Understanding recognizing and acknowledging Treaty, as specified in the medicine chest clause in the commitment between FNHC, Government of Canada and Government of Alberta to support the seamless coordination of access to programs and services needed by First Nations children on and off reserve. This MOU allows the First Nations Health Consortium, the Government of Alberta and the Government of Canada to address gaps and share information, ensuring that children and families in Alberta are receiving the supports they need.

The MOU was signed at an official signing Ceremony on November 15, 2018.

The 11 partner Nations of the First Nations Health Consortium are: Siksika Nation, Bigstone Cree Nation, Loon River First Nation, Lubicon Lake Band, Peerless Trout First Nation, Whitefish Lake #459 First Nation, Woodland Cree First Nation, Samson Cree Nation, Louis Bull Tribe, Montana First Nation, and Ermineskin Cree Nation.

Metro City Medical Clinic

In March 2018, Siksika Nation Chief and Council declared an opioid emergency and committed resources to combat the opioid crisis. A community team was mobilized and, with additional support from the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch and Alberta Health, a range of interventions were implemented to reduce community risks from opioids. Mass education campaigns targeted Nation members and staff from all service areas. Opioid agonist treatment services on reserve were designed and implemented in partnership with leading addictions specialists. Other harm reduction initiatives, such as the safe provision and disposal of injection supplies, have also been initiated.

Siksika Health Services worked with its pharmacy and Metro City Medical Centre to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in the spring of 2018 to develop and implement its own model of opioid agonist therapy. This service, which is coordinated by a Siksika Health Nurse Practitioner, is directly beneﬁtting regular clients, and serving to stabilize others. There are many more people who would beneﬁt from the treatment, yet are unable to access it because of transportation and other barriers, for which Siksika Health has also led cross-departmental engagement and planning. These important initiatives are positively impacting Siksika Nation and require sustainable support to continue.

Alberta Recreation and Parks Association

At the 2018 Alberta Recreation and Parks Association’s Annual Conference and Energize Workshop, a first of its kind Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association (ARPA) and Siksika Health Services (SHS).

The MOU lays out the terms and understanding between SHS and ARPA for the purpose of establishing the basis of a long-term collaborative relationship as well as an operational framework. Working towards improving key health indicators such as life expectancy, depression, suicide, and obesity rates for community members, this purposeful combination of health, recreation and sports is indented to change the narration of the role of sports and elevate it as a societal priority. This work advances more detailed undertakings that contribute to each group’s individual and common goals/objectives surrounding recreation and parks in relation to wellness. This MOU was signed on a hide to bridge the divide of oral and written agreements.

Alberta Health

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), known to the parties as a Relationship Agreement, supports work to improve health outcomes and services for Siksika Nation members. Under the agreement, Siksika Nation and Alberta Health work together to understand, address, and prevent inequities in health services, policies and programs for Siksika Nation members.

The MOU forges a strong relationship and partnership model between Alberta Health and Siksika Nation that will give the Nation increased control and access to quality health services, and an opportunity for government to explore innovative health services with a First Nation partner.

The MOU is the first agreement in Alberta to include the use of the Blackfoot language. The agreement also acknowledges Siksika Nation Elders’ Guiding Principles, seeks to eliminate racism, and bring about positive and transformative change in health care for Siksika Nation.

The agreement includes commitments to:

Pursue a lasting and cooperative relationship;
Acknowledge that the status quo is not acceptable;
Commit to bringing about positive and transformative change in healthcare and socioeconomic outcomes for Siksika;
Reduce jurisdictional uncertainty;
Address social and economic determinants of health;
Eliminate systemic racism within the healthcare system in Alberta, where it exists, and ensure that Siksika members are provided culturally safe healthcare services.

Calgary Hitmen Hockey Club

The Calgary Hitmen Hockey Club and Siksika Health Services signed a first of its kind Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in August 2021. The historic partnership commits to several working goals: address stereotypes and racism by advancing inclusion in our communities through the promotion of the Blackfoot culture, language and history; and promote healthy lifestyles for all youth and to highlight the benefits of participation in sport.

Other highlights in the MOU include:

Using mentors, Hitmen players and alumni to encourage recruitment, participation and retention of young hockey players with an added focus of helping to grow other sports, recreation opportunities, and physical literacy.
Engage to the full extent Siksika Health Services expertise to promote healthy lifestyles and continue to work to understand and educate on harm reduction during the Opioid Crisis.

This agreement builds on the existing working relationship between the Calgary Hitmen, Siksika Nation and Siksika Health Services. Past highlights include the “Every Child Matters” game held on February 1, 2020 at Scotiabank Saddledome which promoted and celebrated the Blackfoot culture, and going forward will become an annual event.