Dagugicebi (Good Relatives)

Alexis Community-Elder Led Safety Project

Pathways to Safe Indigenous Communities ** In Partnership with Canada

Backgrounder: In December of 2024, Chief Alexis engaged with Canada to develop a community plan to address safety. Since 2020, Alexis has seen a significant rise in mortality rates and increasing concerns about violence and crime. This surge has greatly impacted the safety and well-being of community members, leading to a call for urgent action. Ish?awmin (elders), as the stewards of knowledge and cultural wisdom, are uniquely positioned to lead this initiative. Through revisiting ancient laws and teachings that define what it means to be “good relatives,” the community will work collaboratively to find solutions that heal and restore peace. Purpose:  The purpose of this project is to empower the Alexis community to address the rising concerns of mortality, violence, and crime through a culturally grounded, Nakota-led approaches to community safety, well-being, and resilience. By engaging elders and fostering traditional practices, the project will create a sustainable and community-driven safety plan that aligns with the needs of the community and promotes physical, mental, and spiritual healing. Goals & Objectives:

1. Engage with Ish?awimin (Elders) and Community Members: Engage the community through Elder-Led Sharing Circles and community meetings to identify the safety and well-being needs of Alexis. This will include evaluating existing gaps and opportunities to address community challenges.
2. Promote Physical, Mental, and Emotional Safety: Incorporate healing circles and traditional ceremonies as methods to promote emotional, mental, and physical safety. Elders will facilitate discussions to address trauma, grief, addiction, and loss, guiding the community toward healing.\
3. Create a Community-Led Safety and Resilience Plan: Based on traditional teachings, the community will co-create a safety plan that outlines strategies to reduce violence, promote well-being, and restore community trust. The plan will be informed by Nakota values and focus on community collaboration.
4. Support Cultural Revival and Preservation: Foster community members’ connections to their culture by integrating traditional teachings, language, and practices into the safety plan. Activities will be designed to highlight Nakota culture and language, ensuring they are passed down to future generations.
5. Promote Nakota Control and Governance: Enable community members to lead and manage their own safety and well-being efforts. Elders will play a key role in governance, ensuring that the project aligns with Nakota control and practices
6. Support the Specific Needs of Vulnerable Populations: Prioritize the safety and well-being needs of Nakota women, girls, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, and older adults through targeted programming that focuses on emotional, physical, and mental healing.
7. Foster Collaborative Partnerships: Build partnerships with local, provincial, and federal organizations to ensure that the community safety plan is comprehensive and resource supported. Collaboration will ensure that the project reflects the needs and aspirations of the community.