Building an Off-Reserve Opportunities Fund

As Siksika Nation continues to grow and prosper, it is vital that we ensure every member—no matter where they live—has a fair chance to share in that success. Many of our citizens live off-reserve, in nearby towns or across Canada, contributing to their communities while staying connected to their Siksika roots. To truly strengthen our Nation, we must extend opportunity to them as well.

One way to do this is by establishing an Off-Reserve Opportunities Fund—a dedicated fund that reinvests a small percentage of Siksika’s royalties or the interest earned from past settlements into programs and projects that directly benefit off-reserve members.

This fund could support:

• Entrepreneurship and Small Business Grants – helping members start or expand Indigenous-owned businesses in urban areas.

• Education and Training Programs – funding post-secondary tuition, trades certification, and skills upgrading.

• Employment Initiatives – creating partnerships with municipalities and industry to secure job placements for Siksika members.

• Community and Cultural Spaces – supporting urban gathering centres, housing projects, or service delivery hubs tied to future ATR (Additions to Reserve) lands in Calgary or Strathmore.

By reinvesting a portion of our Nation’s own wealth, we are not spending—we are building. We are turning past success into future sustainability, ensuring that prosperity flows to every Siksika household.

The Off-Reserve Opportunities Fund would represent more than an economic program; it would be a symbol of fairness and forward planning. It would reaffirm that Siksika’s wealth belongs to all Siksika people, and that our collective future is strongest when every member—on and off the Nation—has access to the tools, opportunities, and dignity that come with economic independence.

Together, we can create a model of self-determination that not only uplifts our people but also stands as an example of what Indigenous governance and vision can achieve.