Our third learning circle will be on a biiiig topic. We will be diving into Reciprocity, and what that means from a Blackfoot perspective, with a couple of wonderful Elders-in-Residence here at Mount Royal University. Elder Roy Bearchief has an honourary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Calgary, as well as a Master's in Social Work. He has been a Tribal Manager for Siksika Nation, and currently works at Mount Royal University as an Espoom Tah (helper) in the department of Health, Community and Education. Excitingly, Roy has a very special story to share about our name, "Anitopisi", and what it means. Elder Hayden Melting Tallow is the elder-in-residence for Bisett School of Business. He is from Siksika nation, is a fluent language speaker, and has worked in Calgary for over 30 years in education, children's services and as a cultural advisor.

Reciprocity is a value that I (your host, Zoë, who is a non-Indigenous settler) perceive as underlying many Indigenous paradigms. Many Indigenous cultures center reciprocity and relationality, which can clash with colonial paradigms of hierarchies and competition. I believe it is crucial to learn about reciprocity from an Indigenous lens in order to engage in reconciliation efforts. It is a vast topic that would take life times to fully unpack. However, this will be an exciting glimpse into how two Blackfoot elders view reciprocity.

An article about Elder Roy Bear Chief passing the Elder-in-Residence role at the Bissett School of Business to his friend, Elder Hayden Melting Tallow.

https://www.tricochangemakersstudio.ca/stories/two-blackfoot-elders-circle-of-hope 

An article about the human web Elder Roy Bear Chief created during MRU's Journey to Indigenization last September: https://www.mtroyal.ca/AboutMountRoyal/MediaRoom/Stories/2023/09/human-spiderweb-spreads-interconnectedness.htm