Piikani members have made significant contributions to society

By Letter to the Editor on July 2, 2020.

Most recently in the Saturday, June 20 edition of the Lethbridge Herald, National Indigenous Peoples Day was a featured section of the newspaper. National Indigenous Peoples Day is celebrated across Turtle Island (Canada) each year on June 21 as an opportunity to recognize and acknowledge the contribution of the Indigenous people to this country we call Canada.

While I do support The Herald reporting on this important national event, I noticed in the June 20 edition eight prominent members of the Kainai Nation (Blood Tribe) were featured for their accomplishments which is well deserving. However, as a proud member of the Piikani First Nation it was disappointing to not see any members of the Piikani community featured for their accomplishments. I remind the readers that the City of Lethbridge is in traditional territory of the Blackfoot Confederacy and is surrounded by two prominent tribes of Kainai and Piikani.

I am reminded that in Piikani we, too, have notable nation members such as the Honourable Karen Crowshoe, who sits as a Judge in the Alberta Court; family physician Dr. Lana Potts; Dr. Lindsay Crow Shoe, Associate Professor of Medicine at the U of C; Elder and former Chief Peter Strikes With A Gun, only to name a few.

The People of Piikani are a proud nation as we, too, have made significant contributions to our society.

Adam North Peigan

Piikani First Nation Band Member