Roger Prairie Chicken is the definition of a hero

By Letter to the Editor on July 3, 2021.

Editor:
The word “hero” today is bandied around as if it were popcorn at a movie theatre and frankly there’s few that catch my fancy.
An exception popped up on page A2 of the June 24th edition of this paper in the text under the headline “Elder looking to lead movement for social political change in Blood tribe”.
That headline should have been on the front page in my view; the subject is so important on the path to “saving lives”
The elder hoping to lead a Blood Tribe movement for change, and new hero on my short list of them, is “Roger Prairie Chicken (also known as White water buffalo and White buffalo Horn)”
This fine dedicated gentleman, spiritual leader of 25 years, former Blood tribe Police officer, reserve crisis councillor, married for 40 years, with 15 grandchildren, deserves the widest round of applause possible, as he digs internally for answers to Blood Tribe social problems.
That search starts, with Blood Tribe administration; questioning tribal council politics – the proper place to launch this journey in this writers view.
Mr. Prairie Chicken, during a long career in tribal policing and crisis counselling, has been witness to “over 500 deaths on reserve” countless addictions, and tsunamis of social despair & hopelessness. That’s a load to carry in one human life.
He’s asking for action be taken to address “leadership and administration more interested in keeping jobs than dealing with underlying social problems” What a wonderful endeavour!
Today I honour Roger Prairie Chicken and everyone at his side he’ll need onboard to change social ills lead by the curse of addiction destroying his reserve.
Alvin W. Shier
Lethbridge