Neighbors Helping Neighbors

This patch is from Prairie Mountain HAC member, Vincent Yellow Old Woman

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Indigenous worldviews or “ways of knowing” that date back thousands of years, are learned through storytelling, and are inherently practiced. A core worldview is the concept of “interconnectedness”. It is the belief of indigenous people that everything in the universe is connected. Every creature, plant and even object has a purpose and is respected and cared for. This embraces the notion that people are tightly connected to their communities, ancestors, and future generations. So when immunization access was a problem for rural communities, it was innate for the Siksika Nation to step up and launch a Rural COVID Vaccination Clinic in the spirit of protecting indigenous and non-indigenous brothers and sisters. The clinic was extended to Siksika Nation’s neighbouring municipalities of Strathmore, Gleichen, Wheatland County, Vulcan County and Newell County. And, when Calgary’s most vulnerable needed help. Siksika Nation, once again, stepped up to help its neighbors by providing a mobile immunization clinic to the homeless. You can access the audio of an interview about the mobile clinic here and here.

Share in the comment box below your answers to the following question:

What are some of the examples of Neighbors helping Neighbors you experienced in your community?

Quote from Prairie Mountain HAC member, Vincent Yellow Old Woman

Photo credit: Ramsey Kunkel Photography

“It is in our blood to come together in the spirit of caring and protecting one another. Our communities are interconnected – we do not exist in isolation. Covid has reminded us of the need for collaboration when adversity hits our communities. I commend the Siksika Nation for their leadership and extending their hand to a broader community of non-indigeous people and those most vulnerable so we will be a stronger community together.” …Vincent Yellow Old Woman

Images from Siksika Nation: