Miiksikaʼam (born 1948) is a Siksika Indigenous elder, policeman, and veteran from Alberta, Canada.
He is also known as known as Broken Knife and Clarence Wolfleg.
Early life and education
editBorn in 1948 in the Siksika Nation, he was given the name Clarence Wolfleg at Old Sun Indian Residential School. He attended high school in Calgary.[1]
Military service and career
editAfter high school Miiksikaʼam enlisted in the Canadian Army. He served with the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, including with the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus and NATO Forces Continental Europe.[1]
After his military service he became a corrections officer and police officer with the Blackfoot Tribal Police, which he eventually headed. His other roles included directing outpatient services at Siksika Alcohol Services and serving ten terms on the Siksika Nation Council.[1]
Honors
editIn recognition for his service, his community presented him with a headdress, the name Miiksikaʼam, initiation into the Crazy Dog Society, and a sacred bundle and warrior pipe from the Horn Society.[1]
Miiksikaʼam is an elder and spiritual advisor for multiple groups and organizations, including Mount Royal University, Bow Valley College, Health Canada, Veterans Affairs Canada, and the Treaty 7 Tribal Council. He "played a major role in facilitating the creation of the Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park".[1] He received an honorary doctorate from Mount Royal in 2021.[2][3]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "The Proud Fierce Warrior. The Deeply Spiritual Man". Mount Royal University. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
- ^ Bill Graveland (8 June 2021). "Alberta residential school survivor receives honorary doctorate: 'You didn't get the best of me'". Global.
- ^ "Residential school 'didn't get the best of me,' Blackfoot elder says as he's granted honorary MRU doctorate". CBC. 8 June 2021.