The Southern Alberta Medical Program (SAMP) and its home facility were bestowed Blackfoot names on June 16 with a heartfelt and meaningful ceremony that honoured Blackfoot knowledge and tradition and set the program off in a good way.
SAMP is an innovative partnership between the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine (CSM) and ULethbridge, offering students the opportunity to earn a UCalgary medical degree while completing their training in southern Alberta.
The traditional ceremony featured poignant moments of reflection from Blackfoot Elder Ninnaisipistoo (Owl Chief) Dr. Francis First Charger (LLD ’24) and Vice-Provost, Iniskim Indigenous Relations Iikaisskini (Low Horn) Dr. Leroy Little Bear (BASc (BA) ’72, DASc ’04). They relayed stories from their past before announcing the Blackfoot names that will forever be carried by the SAMP program and building at the University of Lethbridge.
Little Bear named the program Sokinaki Okakssksin, describing its meaning as a notion of making people well. First Charger then named the building SAMP will be housed in, Sokinakiitaissksinima’tstohkio’pi, meaning the centre for healing.
ULethbridge Deputy Provost Dr. Rebecca Schiff says the naming ceremony is an integral aspect of fulfilling the vision of the program, which has been consistent from its infancy.
“The vision was rooted in this territory with a hope to train aspiring physicians close to home and close to communities in southern Alberta, where they will hopefully choose to stay and practise as physicians,” says Schiff. “A key part of this vision was physicians grounded in community, fluent in the many perspectives and cultures of our current southern Alberta landscape and practising in culturally safe and respectful ways.”
Accepting a Blackfoot name carries great significance and responsibility, says UCalgary Deputy Provost Dr. Robin Yates.
“Today isn’t about simply naming a building or a program, it's about receiving a gift, and we recognize that a Blackfoot name carries deep meaning and connects us to our identity, ancestry, culture and community,” says Yates. “We also recognize that this name has been given through a very sacred process, and accepting this name is not just an honor, it's also a commitment that we take on. It's a commitment to respect the land, and the platform where people acknowledge to building relationships grounded in truth, reconciliation and mutual respect.”
The June 16 naming ceremony further supports a key goal of the program, which is to work closely with Blackfoot leaders and community to ensure the delivery of a program that aligns with Blackfoot knowledge, needs, vision and culture — ensuring a program that is prepared to train future Indigenous physicians.
“I look forward to learning and understanding the guidance that these names will provide to us, to honouring and enacting this guidance in our SAMP community, and to carrying forward the lessons of these names with integrity, humility and honour,” says Schiff.
Yates echoes these values and says they will resonate with every aspect of the program moving forward.
“We're very grateful with what has been entrusted with us, and we will strive to honour this in our work, our relationships and how we care for this precious space.”
SAMP’s first cohort of students will begin learning on the ULethbridge campus July 6, a significant step forward in supporting medical education training designed to improve the availability and sustainability of physicians in rural and regional areas.
Sokinaki Okakssksin — Southern Alberta Medical Program (SAMP), meaning health awareness or medical awareness
Sokinakiitaissksinima’tstohkio’p — SAMP building, meaning place of learning medicine
