The Siksika Nation Support Center welcomed community members on August 20th for the grand opening of its newest support space, Kaah’sii Living Room, in what organizers described as an important new resource for the community.
The grand opening drew a strong turnout, the event began with an opening prayer from Flora Royal, followed by opening remarks from Daryl Weasel Child. Councillor Stephen Yellow Old Woman also addressed those in attendance, expressing his pride in seeing such a unique and important space become available to members of Siksika Nation.
The concept for Kaah’sii Living Room has been four years in the making. Evans Yellow Old Woman, Program Supervisor, has spent that time developing a space designed to provide community members with a sense of comfort, safety and belonging.
Kaah’sii Living Room was created to provide Siksika Nation members with a warm and welcoming space where they can feel a true sense of home, connection and belonging, much like the feeling of being welcomed into their grandmother’s living room.
Evans shared “When things were rough in my life and I was facing adversity. I would go to my grandmother, and I would sit in her living room, and she would feed me, and she would pray for me and she would calm my storm. And I wanted to create that for all of Siksika, a place for them to come, a place for them to feel like they belong, a place where they feel like they’re a part of community.”
As the community continues to face a range of challenges and difficult circumstances, organizers say spaces offering connection, support and a welcoming environment are more important than ever.
Yellow Old Woman added “When I started my career about 20 years ago, I worked in a drop-in center for youth. And I had some amazing mentors in my life. And they really showed me what it was to work in community and how to build community. I knew that all of the skills and everything that I’ve learned over those years, I wanted to bring back to my people. I always knew that one day I would move home and everything that I’ve learned from my mentors and from elders and people from all over, that I wanted to come home and utilize those skills to help my people.”
With its opening, the new space stands as a symbol of hope and a commitment to supporting Siksika Nation members through the trials and tribulations facing the community.
When asked about his visons for the future of the Siksika Support Center Yellow Old Woman said “Our whole goal is to work ourselves out of a job. We should not be needed anymore. We should be building, we should be creating programming and services that build our people up, where we can just lean on community. Because of colonialism, we have been taught that we are alone in this fight. And it’s really taught us this individualism and isolation and that it’s a dog-eat-dog world out there, every man for himself. But that’s not who we are as Siksikaikowans. We’re a community. And my hope is that with this place that we can rebuild that community and the essence of what true community is and who we are as Siksika people”
For those involved in bringing the vision to life, the grand opening represents the beginning of a new chapter in providing care and support to the nation. Kaah’sii Living Room represents years of planning, dedication and a commitment to creating a welcoming environment where community members can feel supported.
