Sikóóhkotok Lethbridge

The city of Lethbridge is located on traditional Blackfoot territory, in an area known by the Blackfoot as Sikóóhkotoki, meaning “black rock.” Blackfoot presence in this land goes back millennia, where stories, ceremony, and knowledge were passed from generation to generation.

With the arrival of settlers, the signing of Treaty 7, and the establishment of residential schools, the Blackfoot language and ways of life were deliberately suppressed. These policies caused deep and lasting harm, disrupting the intergenerational transmission of language and culture.

Despite these harmful policies Blackfoot culture and language still remains today, carried by teachers, elders, and learners across the confederacy. The Atsimaani Conference is part of an ongoing effort to revitalize the Blackfoot Language, honouring the past while building a future for upcoming generations.