08/22/2024
August 12, 2024
From: Ruth Scalplock, Founder and Honorary Board Member
Awotaan Healing Lodge Society
To: Board of Directors,
Awotaan Healing Lodge
Box 6084
Calgary, Alberta. T2H 2L3
I am the founder of Awotaan Healing Lodge Society (Awotaan). I am also a continuing Honourary Board Member of Awotaan. I am writing this letter in that capacity.
Awotaan is the spiritual name that was given to me by my grandmother. In the tradition of my ancestors, “Awotaan” is part of my spiritual identity, my culture, and creation.
When Awotaan was established in 1992, it was a strong, Indigenous-woman-led organization, designed to serve Indigenous women and families. For many years Awotaan operated with the guidance and leadership of Indigenous women. Both governance and operations respected our protocols, and always respected our Elders. Awotaan was Indigenous-controlled and directed, both through the board of directors and operations. For many years I was an active board member and my role as founding Elder was respected by leadership and administration.
Despite my role as the founder, I have been systematically excluded from Awotaan. Further, I have observed over the past recent years that the board is no longer guided by Indigenous women. I have received serious concerns from members of the Indigenous community about how current leadership and administration are not operating Awotaan in accordance with Awotaan’s cultural and operational model.
I have attempted to bring these concerns to the current Board at Board meetings and past Awotaan AGM’s. I sent registered letter(s) requesting that as an Honorary Board member I wished to attend at regular Board meetings and to the AGM. All requests have been ignored. All subsequent requests similarly, have been ignored.
Along with many who support me, we have tried to bring Awotaan back to the cultural and spiritual foundation it was built on. Over seventy Indigenous and non-Indigenous Calgary community members who support the original Awotaan design as community members applied for membership and Board positions. Approximately seventy applications by eligible individuals were rejected by the current Awotaan Board and Chair, for no noted reason. Except for one Indigenous board member, at present there are no Indigenous people involved in leadership positions in Awotaan’s operations, despite the original mandate, which required that Indigenous people occupy decision making roles.
I continue to observe violation of Awotaan’s cultural design, protocols, and disregard and disrespect for Elders. Awotaan was supposed to always be Indigenous controlled and led, neither which is being respected by the current leadership. I am told that Indigenous staff are choosing to leave their positions with Awotaan, including senior staff positions.
The Awotaan model has been stripped of all Indigenous integrity. This is cultural appropriation and abuse. Awotaan is no longer an Indigenous entity. All aspects of the original Awotaan design are removed or superficially present. The Indigenous women who founded and designed the Awotaan model are being abused. The original intent has been so modified it is no longer Indigenous. – demand that the expectation to acquire funds from Indigenous funding sources under false pretenses also be stopped
We demand that the Awotaan Board of Directors and administration immediately cease and desist the use of all aspects, parts, design, use, and operation of the original Awotaan Model, as registered in 1992.
We are demanding the winding down of the non-profit entity called “Awotaan Healing Lodge Society”, immediately, and the removal of all parts of my intellectual property in the design connected to my name, “Awotaan”. To be clear:
1. Due to the violation of all aspects of the cultural design protocols, Elders, Indigenous control and operations, the use of all traditional images associated with Awotaan on and in the Awotaan building must be removed immediately. This includes the portrait of myself, on display in the Awotaan Healing Lodge building.
2. Due to the violation of all aspects of the cultural design protocols, Elders, Indigenous control and operations, the use of the Awotaan shield design must be removed immediately.
3. Due to the violation of all aspects of the cultural design protocols, Elders, Indigenous control and operations, the use of ceremonial content associated with the ceremonies for the implementation of the design of Awotaan must be stopped immediately. The tipi design and protections associated with Awotaan can never be used or referred to in part or sections in the future.
4. Due to the lack of Indigenous control in operation and board structure all elements associated with or referring to the original design can never be used or claimed in the future.
My supporters and I will be meeting with ministers and all relevant important public offices, such as the Mayor of Calgary, to address the abuse of power, cultural appropriation, and injustices being exercised by the current Awotaan board.
I will not be meeting with any representative of the Awotaan board or administration. I will make arrangements to attend at the Awotaan Healing Lodge to retrieve my portrait as soon as possible.
Yours truly,
Ruth Scalp Lock
Founder and Honorary Board Member
ccWilson Rick, Honorable Minister of Indigenous Relations
Nixon Jason, Honorable Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services
McIver. Ric Honorable Minister of Municipal Affairs
Tisha Bromley, Health Blackfoot Confederacy
Fir. Tanya, Honorable Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women
Eva Friesen, President Calgary Foundation
Tim Fox, VP Indigenous Relations Calgary
Tracy Maracle, VP Governance and HR
David Ducksworth and Katie Black, FCSS
Sharon Hapton, Soup Sisters
Kim Ruse, Calgary Emergency Shelter
Doris Sweetgrass, manager Kainai Women’s Wellness
Shannon Soup, CEO Kainai Children’s Services
Katlyn Lucas Executive Director Elizabeth Fry Society
Maurice Many Fingers, Indigenous Engagement Bow Valley College
Tyler White, CEO Siksika Health
Doreen Williams, Executive Director Circle of Wisdom
Tia Fox, Programs Manager FCSS Blood Tribe
Fee Maclean Executive Assistant Red Crow College
Terri-Lynn Fox, Executive Director Kainai Wellness
Miranda Jimmy, Municipal Affairs Coordinator
Fear is Not Love Shelter
YWCA Sherrif King Home
Discovery House
The Brenda Stratford Foundation
Strathmore Wheatland Crisis Society
Blackfoot Confederacy
