Honouring Our Ancestors: Landscaping and Care for Siksika Cemeteries

Our cemeteries are sacred places — spaces where the stories of our ancestors rest in the earth and where our Nation’s history continues to speak. They are not just burial sites; they are places of reflection, prayer, and connection to those who came before us. Caring for them is a sacred responsibility, one that deserves the same attention and resources we give to any other part of our Nation.

I believe it is time that we allocate dedicated funding for cemetery landscaping and maintenance, including the hiring of a full-time groundskeeper. This position would ensure that our grave sites are kept clean, well-maintained, and respected throughout every season. With proper equipment and a steady budget, we can preserve these spaces as dignified and peaceful places for families to visit and remember their loved ones.

This work must be guided by both traditional Siksika values and modern religious respect. Many of our families practice a blend of cultural and Christian traditions, and it is important that cemetery care reflects both — ensuring that ceremonies, blessings, and landscaping activities are done in a spiritually appropriate and inclusive manner.

Landscaping could include:

• Regular grass cutting, trimming, and snow removal;

• Re-leveling and restoring older grave sites;

• Planting native flowers and trees that symbolize life and renewal;

• Installing pathways and signage for easier access and navigation; and

• Creating quiet prayer and reflection areas for families and visitors.

By investing in our cemeteries, we honour our ancestors and show that their memory continues to guide our Nation forward. This initiative could also provide meaningful employment within our community, training local workers in landscaping, equipment operation, and respectful cultural protocol.

Our loved ones built the foundation we now stand upon. Maintaining their resting places is a way of saying thank you — and of ensuring that the generations who come after us understand that remembrance is not an obligation, but a sacred act of love.