Material Type

Artifact

Date

2019

Materials

POLYESTER, VELCRO, METAL, PLASTIC

No. Pieces

1

Length

77

Width

64

Description

BLUE ZIP UP COAT WITH THREE FRONT POCKETS. THE POCKETS HAVE ZIPPER AND VELCRO CLOSURES, AND THERE IS VELCRO ON THE ZIPPER BAND. THE ZIPPER BAND ALSO HAS TWO METAL SNAPS, ONE AT THE TOP AND ONE AT THE BOTTOM. THE CUFFS HAVE VELCRO ADJUSTMENTS, AND THE BOTTOM OF THE COAT HAS AN ELASTIC DRAWSTRING WITH TOGGLES. THERE IS A ZIPPER AND VELCRO AT THE TOP ON THE BACK OF THE NECK FOR ATTACHING A HOOD, BUT THERE IS NO HOOD ATTACHED. THE INSIDE OF THE COAT HAS BROWN FABRIC. THE TAG AT THE NECK READS “ATHLETIC WORKS M/M”. ONE OF THE TAGS ON THE INSIDE AT THE HIP SAYS “ATHLETIC WORKS…MENS M…MADE IN BANGLADESH…”. THE SECOND TAG AT THE HIP SAYS “NOT TO BE…CONTENT POLYESTER FIBERS”. THE COAT IS WORN, STAINED, AND HAS A SMALL HOLE IN THE FABRIC ON THE FRONT NEAR THE BOTTOM.

Subjects

CLOTHING-OUTERWEAR

Historical Association

ASSOCIATIONS

HEALTH SERVICES

PERSONAL CARE

SAFETY SERVICES

History

MARK BRAVE ROCK STARTED S.A.G.E. CLAN PATROL IN OCTOBER OF 2018 TO SERVE, ASSIST, GUARD, AND ENGAGE (S.A.G.E.) WITH HOMELESS PEOPLE AND INDIVIDUALS WITH ADDICTIONS IN LETHBRIDGE. THE GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION WAS INSPIRED BY THE BEAR CLAN PATROL IN WINNIPEG. S.A.G.E. CLAN VOLUNTEERS BUILD COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS, PROVIDE WATER AND FOOD, AND CONNECT PEOPLE WITH SERVICES IF DESIRED. ON NOVEMBER 15, 2019 COLLECTIONS TECHNICIAN KEVIN MACLEAN MET WITH TYLER CHIEF CALF, WHOSE BLACKFOOT NAME IS IIKAASTIISTIISTIIKOO, A MEMBER OF THE S.A.G.E. CLAN. THEY DISCUSSED THE COLLECTION OF ITEMS FROM THE PATROL THAT TYLER DONATED TO THE MUSEUM. THE INFORMATION BELOW IS DERIVED FROM THE INTERVIEW. TYLER REVEALED WHAT HE THOUGHT ABOUT THE DONATED GARMENTS: “IT MAKES ME FEEL PROUD OF…MYSELF, WHAT I ACCOMPLISHED. NOT ONLY JUST MYSELF, BUT I ACCOMPLISHED WITH MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS THAT WALK WITH ME. IT MAKES ME HAVE THAT CONFIDENCE IN LIFE THAT THERE IS PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE WILLING TO MAKE THE SAME SACRIFICE THAT I MAKE TO CARRY THIS ON FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, AND MAYBE…[IN] FIFTY YEARS’ TIME, IT STILL EXISTS. THAT’S WHAT I WANT.” TYLER SPOKE ABOUT THE FREQUENCY OF THE PATROLS: “…WHEN WE STARTED OUT, WE STARTED [PATROLLING] FOUR DAYS…MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY. BUT, THE MAIN PATROLLERS, THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN WITH US STEADY, WE…ARE CALLED ON TO SPECIAL PATROLS… USUALLY OUR PATROLS ARE- THE LONGEST WOULD BE FOUR HOURS AND THE SHORTEST WOULD BE TWO HOURS. NOW IT’S DOWN TO THREE DAYS.” “[NOW WE PATROL ON] WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, AND SUNDAYS. WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY, WE START AT 9:00 [P.M.] AND WE DON’T HAVE A SET TIME WHEN WE FINISH. IT’S USUALLY…WHEN WE’RE ALL TIRED… [ON] SUNDAYS, IT’S [A] 5:00 [P.M. START] AND IT’S NOT A SET TIME WHEN WE FINISH…” TYLER CONTINUED TO SPEAK ABOUT THE WEEKDAYS THE PATROLS ARE SCHEDULED FOR: “…WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY IT SEEMS LIKE IT’S THE BUSIEST TIME THAT THEY’RE OUT AROUND IN THE COMMUNITY, AROUND THE BUSINESSES, IN THE GALT GARDEN AREA… ON SUNDAY…EVERYTHING CLOSES LIKE THE STORES…DOWNTOWN…THE SHELTER…CLOSE EARLY AND…THEY SAY THAT’S WHERE THEY’RE MOST VULNERABLE, THEIR LONELY TIME… IT’S [A] REALLY LONELY DAY… THAT’S WHERE WE CAN COME AND SPEAK WITH THEM… THEY’LL SHARE THAT…THEY’RE TIRED OF LIVING THIS LIFE THEY’RE LIVING, BUT IT’S SO HARD FOR THEM TO FIGHT THEIR ADDICTION… SO THAT’S WHERE WE KNOW, ON SUNDAYS WE CAN INTERACT WITH THEM, ENGAGE WITH THEM…” TYLER PROVIDED THE SIZE OF THE VOLUNTEER GROUP ON PATROLS: “WE RANGE FROM FIVE TO FOURTEEN OF US.” WINTER CONDITIONS RESULT IN FEWER VOLUNTEERS SHOWING UP FOR THE PATROLS: “…SOME OF THEM DON’T COME OUT WHEN IT’S SO COLD… I’VE WALKED IN MINUS…TWENTY-SIX… IF IT’S THAT COLD, WE DO A DRIVE PATROL, USE OUR VEHICLES AND DRIVE DOWN.” S.A.G.E. CLAN GATHERS TOGETHER NEAR DOWNTOWN TO START THE PATROLS, WHICH TYLER ELABORATED ON: “…AT FIRST…THE FRIENDSHIP CENTRE, THEY TAKE CARE OF THE SHELTER…THEY HAD A LITTLE OFFICE SPACE THERE THEY GAVE US FOR A WHILE, AND THAT’S WHERE WE WERE MEETING. BUT [IN 2019], WE ALL MEET AT THE LIBRARY PARKING LOT. WE GATHER THERE AND WE START FROM THERE. OR…OUR DAYS STAGGER. THE NEXT DAY PATROL WILL MEET ON THE NORTH SIDE…ON 13TH STREET...” TYLER TALKED ABOUT GETTING RADIOS, A TOOL THAT WILL HELP THE PATROLS: “…WE HAVE A ROUTE SET OUT WHERE WE’RE [GOING TO] PATROL, BUT WE CHANGE IT UP IN…DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS… WE DON’T USUALLY JUST FOLLOW THE SAME ROUTE… WHEN WE GET OUR RADIOS, THEN WE’LL BE ABLE TO SPLIT UP IN TWO GROUPS AND THAT WILL BE DOUBLE. I THINK THAT WILL…ACCOMMODATE US…BETTER THAN WHAT WE’RE DOING NOW.” “THE BEAR CLAN FROM WINNIPEG, THEY’RE SENDING US DOWN RADIOS. THAT’S WHO WE ADOPTED THIS S.A.G.E. CLAN [FROM]. WE GOT THEIR BLESSINGS TO CARRY A CHAPTER, HERE, FROM THE LEADER JAMES FAVEL… OVER THE SUMMER [OF 2019], HE CAME DOWN AND HE PATROLLED WITH US… HE’S THE ONE THAT…ORDERED ALL THESE RADIOS FOR US AND SENT THEM DOWN FROM WINNIPEG.” TYLER SPOKE ABOUT THE IMPACT JAMES FAVEL VISITING THE S.A.G.E. CLAN HAD: “THAT WAS A REALLY…HEART-WARMING THING…TO CONNECT WITH SOMEBODY…ANOTHER FIRST NATIONS [PERSON] LIKE ME. I’M BLACKFOOT AND…WHERE HE COMES FROM IS SIX NATIONS DOWN EAST… WE’RE FOCUSED ON THE SAME CAUSE AND WE HAVE THE SAME PASSION…AND THAT CONNECTION WHEN HE CAME…KNOWING WHAT HE BROUGHT AND HIS KNOWLEDGE THAT…HE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE AND SHARED WITH US. THAT WAS REALLY ENCOURAGING.” “[WHAT JAMES SAID] AS ENCOURAGEMENT TOWARDS US, WAS NOT TO GIVE UP. ‘BE STRONG, STAY STRONG. STAY STRONG FOR…YOUR TEAM YOU WALK WITH’... HE WAS GRATEFUL THAT WE STARTED THIS CHAPTER AND WE ASKED FOR HIS BLESSINGS; HE GAVE US HIS BLESSINGS… THAT BROUGHT OUR CONNECTION TOGETHER…” TYLER PROVIDED THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND THE PATROL: “…[THE PEOPLE THE S.A.G.E. CLAN MEET]…TELL ME THEIR STORY…[ABOUT]...THEIR SITUATION NOW… SOME OF THEM ARE…PRETTY HARSH STORIES TO LISTEN TO… I ENGAGE WITH THEM AND JUST SIT THERE AND LISTEN. IN MY BLACKFOOT LANGUAGE IT’S WHAT WE USE AND WE GO BY THAT MOTTO, IT’S CALLED [NIITSITAPIIKIMMAPIIYIPITSSIN]. THAT’S WHAT IT IS, TO CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER, TO HELP ONE ANOTHER. THAT’S HOW I UNDERSTAND IT, AND THAT’S OUR [S.A.G.E. CLAN] MOTTO WE USE AND WE EXPLAIN.” “FOR ME, THE BEST THING IS…WHEN I’M ON MY OWN TIME, WITHOUT BEING ON PATROL, IS GETTING TO KNOW THESE INDIVIDUALS A LITTLE BETTER. [I] FAMILIARIZE MYSELF WITH THEM AND THEIR STORY, WHERE I COULD RELATE AND SHARE MY STORY WITH THEM AND THAT CAN GIVE…ALL OF US, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE GET BACK ON PATROL…WE CAN BRAINSTORM AND HAVE A STRATEGIC PLAN WHAT WE’RE [GOING TO]…FOCUS ON.” “…I WAS TOLD BY SOME INDIVIDUALS THAT THEY JUST NEEDED SOMEBODY TO TALK TO AND…KNOWING THAT SOMEBODY OUT THERE THAT CARES FOR THEM… MOST OF THESE INDIVIDUALS…DON’T HAVE THAT, THAT’S WHY THEY’RE STRUGGLING OUT ON THE STREETS. THAT’S THE WAY THEY EXPLAINED IT TO ME… BUT KNOWING THAT, WHERE THEY ARE NOW…[TO] HEAR THEIR STORIES…IT GIVES US OUR STRENGTH TO KNOW WHAT WE’RE UP AGAINST OUT THERE, WITH THEM.” TYLER EXPLAINED HOW THESE INTERACTIONS HAVE IMPACTED HIM: “…IT GIVES ME A PASSION FOR WHAT I’M DOING… IT BRINGS A COMFORT TO MY HEART THAT I CAN GO OUT THERE AND I HAVE THIS STRENGTH AND THIS WILL TO GET OUT AND HELP AND BE THERE FOR MY COMMUNITY. THAT’S WHAT IT DOES FOR ME. IT GIVES ME THAT STRENGTH… IT OPENS MY EYES UP MORE TO UNDERSTANDING WHAT OUR COMMUNITY IS FACING AND MY PEOPLE, AND THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE…ADDICTIONS OUT THERE…” TYLER EXPLAINED WHY BEING A PART OF THE S.A.G.E. CLAN IS SIGNIFICANT TO HIM PERSONALLY: “…WHAT’S IMPORTANT TO ME IS…ALL THE DEATHS THAT OCCURRED…[DUE] TO THIS [OPIOID] CRISIS AND…IT GAVE ME A VISION AND IT MOTIVATED ME TO GET OUT THERE TO SEE WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE CRACKS AND THE CREVASSES OF THE CITY…AND WHAT I CAN DO TO HELP TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY [AND] TO MAKE IT BETTER… NOT ONLY JUST MYSELF, BUT BEING THERE WITH OTHERS THAT WALK WITH ME… WE ALL SHARE THE SAME COMPASSION WITH WHAT WE DO [BECAUSE] WE WANT TO MAKE THE COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE AND SAFER OUT THERE FOR OUR PEOPLE TO WALK, ESPECIALLY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA… I WANT TO BE A POSITIVE SYMBOL FOR MY PEOPLE… I WANT PEOPLE TO SEE THAT…MY PEOPLE ARE OUT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND THAT WE’RE WILLING TO WORK WITH OTHERS TO COME TOGETHER…TO BE UNIFIED...” TYLER REVEALED THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE INSPIRED HIS PASSIONS AND LED HIM TO VALUE KINDNESS AND CARE: “…MY FATHER…REALLY PLAYED A BIG ROLE IN MY UPBRINGING, AND MY MOTHER. THEY’RE MY HEROES. THEY GUIDED ME THROUGH LIFE AND TAUGHT ME TO CARE FOR PEOPLE… THE OTHER PERSON [WHO HAS INSPIRED ME] IS MARK BRAVE ROCK, THE STORIES HE SHARED WITH ME, WHAT HE’D BEEN THROUGH… TO SEE HIM NOW, HOW HE RECOVERED FROM THAT AND IT TOOK HIM AWHILE…THAT REALLY INSPIRED ME… I LOOKED AT HIM…JUST HAVING THAT COMFORT WITH HIM AND FOR HIM TO SHARE HIS STORY WITH ME [WAS IMPACTFUL]… NOW, WE CALL EACH OTHER ‘BROTHER’… HE’S MY HERO.” TYLER DESCRIBED HOW HE BECAME CLOSER WITH MARK BRAVE ROCK: “HOW WE FIRST GOT TOGETHER WAS THROUGH…OUR TRADITIONAL WAY WE SING… WE HAVE OUR OWN DRUM GROUP AND [MARK] JOINED WITH US AND THAT’S HOW WE CONNECTED… THAT’S WHAT BROUGHT US TOGETHER, WAS THAT DRUM, SITTING AROUND IT…” TYLER SPOKE ABOUT WHY MARK INVITED HIM TO BE A PART OF THE S.A.G.E. CLAN: “…HE KNEW [MY EXPERIENCES]… THAT’S WHY HE ASKED ME TO JOIN, AND SHARING OUR CULTURE AND WHAT HE KNOWS ABOUT ME– MY SINGING, AND ABOUT MY FAMILY, THE HISTORY, WHO’S BEHIND ME, MY GREAT-GRANDPARENTS, MY GRANDFATHER AND MY FAMILY… HE KNEW MY BACKGROUND, SO I’M PRETTY SURE THAT’S WHY HE…ASKED ME TO JOIN.” TYLER DISCUSSED HOW MARK APPROACHED HIM TO JOIN THE S.A.G.E. CLAN WHEN THE PATROL WAS INITIATED: “…IT WAS AUGUST 2018…WHEN HE CAME AND HE PROPOSED THIS TO ME THAT HE WAS GOING TO START [S.A.G.E. CLAN] AND HE ASKED ME TO JOIN… I TOLD HIM, ‘YEAH’…BUT I HAD MY DOUBTS, THOUGH…[BECAUSE] SOMETHING HAPPENED TO ME OUT THERE AS WELL…” TYLER INITIALLY WAS NOT SURE IF HE WOULD JOIN THE S.A.G.E. CLAN DUE TO A PAST EXPERIENCE: “…I’VE BEEN ATTACKED BY THREE INDIVIDUALS...BUT I WAS ABLE TO GET AWAY FROM THEM. THAT’S WHAT SPOOKED ME AND SCARED ME [ABOUT BEING A PART OF THE S.A.G.E. CLAN]. I WASN’T TOO FOND OF GETTING OUT THERE AND…I HAD TRUST ISSUES. I WAS SCARED TO WALK OUT THERE, TO MEET UP WITH THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT…HAVE ATTACKED ME WHILE ON THE STREET.” “…[BUT] I RAN INTO THEM. ONE DAY, [WE WERE] HANDING OUT LUNCHES AND I CAME UP TO THE PERSON STANDING THERE, AND HE TOOK A LUNCH AND HE WAS COLD AND I WAS SCARED… WHEN…I GAVE THEM A LUNCH…[TO THE PEOPLE THAT ATTACKED ME PREVIOUSLY] AND THEY…HAD A PUZZLED LOOK ON THEIR FACE… THE ONE [PERSON]…ALL HE HAD WAS A VERY THIN…T-SHIRT AND IT WAS REALLY COLD THAT NIGHT… I TOOK THE SWEATER OFF MY BACK…AND I GAVE IT TO HIM.” TYLER REVEALED HOW THAT EXPERIENCE BECAME TRANSFORMATIVE: “…THREE DAYS AFTER THAT, ME AND MARK WERE RUNNING AROUND DOING SOME BUSINESS FOR S.A.G.E. [CLAN], GETTING DONATIONS…TOGETHER… I WENT OUT TO THE VEHICLE TO GRAB SOME PAPERWORK...AND THE TWO…WERE OUT ON THE STREET…AND THEY CAME AND APPROACHED ME… THAT STARTLED ME…BUT HE…EXTENDED HIS HAND AND GRABBED MY HAND…AND HE HAD TEARS IN HIS EYES AND HE PUT HIS HEAD ON MY HANDS AND HE SAID, ‘COULD YOU FORGIVE ME FOR WHAT I’VE DONE TO YOU? YOU’RE A GOOD GUY, WHAT YOU DO TO HELP US. I THANK YOU. WOULD YOU FORGIVE BOTH OF THEM?’ THE OTHER INDIVIDUAL, HE WAS STANDING THERE, BUT THE ONE THAT WAS TALKING TO ME HAD TEARS IN HIS EYES. THE OTHER ONE SHOOK MY HAND. THEY GAVE ME A HUG… THAT TOOK…ME OUT OF THE SHELL THAT I WAS IN, HAVING THE TRUST ISSUES. SO NOW I CAN WALK, ENJOY MYSELF IN HOPE THAT [THERE ARE] BIGGER OPPORTUNITIES FOR ME. I DON’T HAVE TO FEAR.” “…THE YOUNG MAN THAT WAS THERE, THE ONE THAT WAS SHAKING MY HAND, HAD TEARS AND ASKED FOR MY FORGIVENESS... HE WENT TO GET HIMSELF OUT FOR HIS ADDICTION… SO HE’S HEALED HIMSELF. SINCE THAT TIME, HE TOLD ME, ‘WHEN I MET YOU ON THE STREET, I ASKED YOU TO FORGIVE ME’… HE SAID THAT I INSPIRED HIM… HE SAID, ‘LOOK WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU...’ …NOW, TO THIS DAY, WE’RE FRIENDS... I SEE HIM, HE GREETS ME WITH A HANDSHAKE OR A HUG AND HE CALLS ME BROTHER. BOTH OF THEM, THOSE YOUNG MEN THAT ATTACKED ME.” TYLER ILLUSTRATED HOW CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE S.A.G.E. CLAN AND SERVICE AGENCIES ARE IMPORTANT: “…WHEN THEY SHARE THEIR STORY WITH ME, HOW THEY [WANT TO] CHANGE THEIR LIFE AROUND, I SHARE MY STORY [AND] HOW I CHANGED MINE. I FOUND THE RIGHT PATH IN MY LIFE, THE DIRECTION, WHERE IT’S GOING TO HELP THEM… MARK HAS…CONNECTIONS WITH 'ARCHES' AND THESE OTHER ENTITIES THAT DEAL WITH THIS CRISIS AND ADDICTIONS, AND HE’LL MAKE SOME PHONE CALLS AND HE’LL REFER THEM TO THESE PLACES.” “RIGHT NOW, WE’RE TRYING TO ESTABLISH A COMMUNICATION WITH THESE ENTITIES…[BECAUSE] WE JUST HAVE A SMALL WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY WHEN THEY SPEAK TO GET THEM THAT HELP… WHEN THAT COMES…WE [WANT TO] HAVE THAT STATUS WHERE WE CAN…HAVE THAT REFERRAL RIGHT THEN AND THERE AND GET THEM INTO…WHATEVER ENTITY THEY HAVE OUT THERE [TO] GET THEM HELP. INSTEAD OF THEM WAITING TWO WEEKS, THREE WEEKS, TO GET INTO A PLACE TO, FOR THEM TO GET HELP…” THERE ARE CHALLENGES AND BARRIERS FOR PEOPLE TO RECEIVE THE HELP THEY NEED, WHICH TYLER COMMENTED ON: “…SOMETIMES [I WONDER] ‘WHY CAN’T THESE ENTITIES HELP THEM RIGHT AWAY?’ …FOR ME IT’S AN EMERGENCY BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE, THEY’RE LOSING THEIR LIVES OVER A DRUG THAT WASN’T CREATED BY THEM. IT WASN’T BROUGHT IN BY US AND THEY’RE LOSING THEIR LIVES TO THIS ADDICTION… THERE ARE JUST A LOT OF YOUNG KIDS FROM THE AGE FOURTEEN TO FORTY-TWO. IT’S ALL IN…THAT AGE CATEGORY THAT ARE OUT THERE. IT IS FRUSTRATING…WHEN I SEE THAT THAT…THEIR [VOICES] WEREN’T HEARD. AND WE TRY TO HELP THEM…TO GET INTO THOSE PLACES… BUT…I CAN’T SAY WHAT THEY’RE ABOUT AND…WHAT THEIR PROTOCOL IS, HOW THEY RUN THEIR ENTITY. IT’S JUST FRUSTRATING WHEN [PEOPLE SEEKING SERVICES] TELL US THAT, ‘WE WENT THERE BUT WE HAVE TO SIGN FORMS THAT ARE AS THICK AS A MAYBE TWO HUNDRED-PAGE LITTLE NOVEL BOOK…’ …AND THAT’S WHAT DISCOURAGES MOST OF THEM [FROM RECEIVING AID]…” “…BUT, I LOOK AT IT THIS WAY…I’M GOING TO BE OUT THERE AND I’M GOING TO KEEP GOING [BECAUSE] I’M PASSIONATE ABOUT IT AND I DON’T [WANT TO] GIVE UP NOW. I DON’T [WANT TO] DISCOURAGE MYSELF OR DISCOURAGE…MY TEAM THAT I WALK WITH. THAT’S HOW I FEEL ABOUT THAT.” TYLER ILLUSTRATED HOW VOLUNTEERS ARE TRAINED AND GAIN EXPERIENCE ON THE PATROLS: “…WHEN I’M WALKING WITH THEM… I WAS A TEAM MEMBER AND MARK HAS ASKED ME TO BE A TEAM LEAD [BECAUSE] I HAVE …THE TRAININGS I’VE BEEN TO… I KNOW A TEAM MEMBER THAT JUST JOINED IN, SO I’LL WALK WITH THEM…AND I’LL EXPLAIN…AND I’LL TRAIN HIM AND I’LL TALK TO HIM, ‘THIS IS HOW YOU APPROACH SOMEBODY.’ [WHEN WE GO TO] THE AREAS…WHERE PEOPLE SLEEP…[I WANT VOLUNTEERS] TO TRUST US…THAT THEY’RE [GOING TO] BE OKAY WHEN THEY WALK… WE’RE [GOING TO] WATCH OUT FOR EACH OTHER, AND I EXPLAIN TO THEM WHEN WE COME ACROSS A CASUALTY THAT’S UNCONSCIOUS, WHO…[ARE] THE ONES THAT ARE [GOING TO] GET THAT PLAN OF ACTION AND WHO ARE [GOING TO] DEAL WITH THE SITUATION AND WHAT’S THEIR ROLE THEY’RE [GOING TO] PLAY, LIKE KEEP THE…CROWD THAT’S AROUND THEM…BACK WHILE WE ATTEND TO THAT PERSON.” “EACH DAY, I LEARN SOMETHING NEW AND IT’S NOT ALWAYS THE SAME. THERE’S ALWAYS DIFFERENT PROBLEMS AROUND THAT BEAT… SO, PRETTY MUCH EACH DAY WE’LL HAVE TO EXPLAIN SOMETHING [TO NEW VOLUNTEERS]. ESPECIALLY [WHEN] WE LEARN IT AND WE COME BACK AND EXPLAIN TO THEM… WHEN THEY’RE THERE IT’S MORE…HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE… BUT…IT’S JUST HAVE TRUST WITH ONE ANOTHER AND THEY TRUST US TO WALK WITH US… FOR MYSELF THAT’S HOW I TRAIN THEM; LET THEM KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON AND, IF THEY [WANT TO] STICK WITH IT, THEN…FREQUENTLY COME OUT AND BE A MAIN PATROLLER… WE GIVE THEM PAMPHLETS… WE SEND THEM TO…PLACES WHERE THEY CAN GET THEIR FIRST AID, THE NALOXONE TRAINING AND…MENTAL HEALTH…[AND] CONFLICT RESOLUTION. THAT’S WHAT I ALL HAVE…” TYLER CONTINUED: “BEFORE THIS…I WAS FIRE-FIGHTING… I HAVE [A] FIRST RESPONDER’S CERTIFICATE…SO THAT HELPS TO PLAY A ROLE WITH THIS… IT’S JUST BASICALLY SHARING WITH [VOLUNTEERS] THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE STREETS AND THE KNOWLEDGE OF HOW MY PEOPLE ARE. HOW THE NATIVE/BLACKFOOT PEOPLE– HOW THEY REACT TO OTHERS…WHAT THEY GO UP AGAINST…SO THEY’LL BE COMFORTABLE AND STAY LONGER. THEY WON’T HAVE TO HAVE FEAR IN THEM... I KNOW THAT THE MAIN THING IS WHEN THEY WALK, DO THEY FEEL THAT IN THEIR HEART THAT FEELING…THAT [VOLUNTEERING WITH S.A.G.E. CLAN IS GOING TO] HELP YOU BE A BETTER PERSON IN LIFE AND…SEEING THESE INDIVIDUALS WITH ADDICTIONS AND HOMELESS, LOOKING AT THEM AND SEEING THEM IN A DIFFERENT WAY INSTEAD OF JUST DRIVING BY THEM DOWN THE STREET… IT’S A DIFFERENT STORY, GETTING…RIGHT INTO THE STREETS AND SEEING AND HEARING WHAT THEY DO AND WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY.” “…THE THING ABOUT IT IS THAT IT WAS ALL VOLUNTEER. NONE OF US ARE GETTING A WAGE OR PAYMENT; IT’S ALL VOLUNTEER FROM THE GET-GO.” TYLER EXPLAINED THE SHIFTS NECESSARY TO MAKE THE COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE: “…IT’S ABOUT…COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT… WHEN WE HAVE OUR DISCUSSIONS, I THINK ABOUT IT TOO, IS…WHAT OUR MESSAGE THAT WE’RE [GOING] SEND OUT [IS]. WHAT WE WANT, AND ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT ARE ON THE STREETS, THAT…[ARE] HOMELESS AND ARE INDIGENOUS, [IS] SEEING US WALK WITH DIFFERENT NATIONALITIES AND SEEING HOW WE COME TOGETHER AS ONE. WE WANT TO SEND THAT MESSAGE: ‘LOOK, WE CAN WORK WITH OTHER PEOPLE TO HELP YOU GUYS AND TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY FOR A BETTER PLACE, ANY WHICH WAY WE CAN’… THEY HAVE NEGATIVE COMMENTS TOWARDS THE PEOPLE THAT ARE STRUGGLING ON THE STREETS AND COMMITTING THESE PETTY CRIMES… THE REASON WHY I’M OUT THERE IS TO LET THEM KNOW THAT WE’RE LABELED ALL THE SAME [AS INDIGENOUS PEOPLE]; WE GET TREATED ALL THE SAME… [THE REASON] I WALK, IS BECAUSE TO LET THEM KNOW THAT WE’RE ALL NOT LIKE THAT… OUR PEOPLE ARE NOT THAT, THAT’S NOT WHO WE ARE.” “…WHEN I GO TO CONFERENCES HERE IN LETHBRIDGE, THEY SAY, ‘WE’RE ON TRADITIONAL, BLACKFOOT TERRITORY,’ AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE THEM TO KNOW IS THAT THE CITY, WHERE IT IS LYING…MY PEOPLE, OUR ANCESTORS, WE LIVED AND WE HUNTED THE BUFFALO HERE AND ALL WILD GAME... I KNOW THAT NOT MANY PEOPLE…CONSIDER THAT, WHO WE ARE AND WHERE WE COME FROM. THEY CONSIDER US AS ANOTHER DRUNK INDIAN. WE’RE NOT INDIANS, WE’RE FIRST NATIONS AND OUR LANGUAGE, WHERE WE COME FROM, THE BLOOD RESERVE... KAINAI, MANY CHIEFS…THAT’S WHO WE ARE...” TYLER SHARED HIS UNDERSTANDINGS OF THIS LAND AND THE CONSIDERATIONS THAT PEOPLE LIVING HERE NEED TO ADDRESS: “…THERE’S NOT REALLY HOPE FOR THAT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT BECAUSE OF ALL THE POLLUTION THAT’S GOING ON… MY PEOPLE, WE COULD GO ANYWHERE ALONG THE RIVERS AND THE NATURAL SPRINGS THAT ARE ALONG THE RIVER BOTTOMS…AND DRINK WATER OUT OF THEM. NOW WE CAN’T, WE’LL JUST GET SICK [AND] END UP IN THE HOSPITAL… THAT’S HOW OUR PEOPLE SURVIVED. WATER IS VERY IMPORTANT TO MY PEOPLE; THAT’S OUR LIFE. WATER. OUR BODY IS 95% WATER… THAT’S ANOTHER THING… THERE’S HOPE BUT IT’S IN A 50/50 WITH ME… THERE’S HOPE…FOR OUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF OUR EXISTENCE, WHO WE ARE.” TYLER POINTED OUT THE INTERGENERATIONAL NATURE OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE PRESENT TODAY: “…THE WAY I SEE IT IS WHAT GOES ON, AND IT’S HAPPENING INTO OUR COMMUNITY, BUT ALL ACROSS CANADA, WHATEVER HAPPENS TO US, HOW WE GET AFFECTED BY WHAT’S GOING ON, IS [GOING TO] HAPPEN TO OTHER NATIONALITIES OUT THERE. IT’S [GOING TO] AFFECT THEM AS WELL. THE POLLUTION, WHAT GOES ON OUT THERE, IT’S NOT [GOING TO] JUST BE US… [THE] STORIES…TOLD THAT WERE PASSED ON FROM GENERATIONS, WE’RE CARETAKERS OF THE LAND; WE PROTECTED THE LAND; WE WATCHED…EVERYTHING OUT THERE… MY ANCESTORS, THEIR TEACHINGS THEY PASSED [ON]…[THROUGH] PICTOGRAPHS. THAT’S THEIR WAY OF LETTING US KNOW THAT THEY WERE AROUND; THAT THEY WERE HERE. WE HAVE THESE SPECIAL SITES OUT THERE THAT ARE SACRED TO US…THAT MY PEOPLE WENT TO FOR… WHAT WE DO, [COLONIZERS] CALLED IT A RELIGION, BUT WHAT THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND IS IT’S NOT A RELIGION; IT’S OUR WAY OF LIFE…WHICH WAS PASSED ON FOR [GENERATIONS]…FROM OUR ANCESTORS [UNTIL] MODERN-DAY LIVING, NOW. BUT IT’S…BEEN LOST THROUGH THE GENERATIONS [UNTIL] NOW.” TYLER SPOKE ABOUT HOW PEOPLE CAN GET INVOLVED WITH THE S.A.G.E. CLAN: “THROUGH OUR SOCIAL NETWORK… INBOX, OR TEXT MESSAGE, OR GIVE US A CALL.” FOR MORE INFORMATION, OR TO SEE THE FULL INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE SEE THE DONATION’S PERMANENT FILE.

Catalogue Number

P20190030005

Acquisition Date

2019-12

Collection

Museum

Less detail