Compelling Calgarians: Kanakii Mekaisto

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This year, Kanakii Mekaisto will receive her master’s degree in social work and establish a school on the Siksika Nation, teaching traditional Indigenous ways.

“It will be a place kids can learn our language, where mothers can learn to love their children and learn from our grandmothers who they are,” says the residential school survivor, Siksika Nation member, teacher, knowledge-keeper and therapist, named a 2022 Mount Royal University Alumni (2000 social work diploma) of the year.

For 60-year-old Mekaisto — beaten, abused and told “you are stupid and going to hell” at residential school, while also being the child of a residential school survivor — it’s a way forward she began to see when, at 17, she had her first child.

A high school dropout, she went on welfare, encountering a white social worker who told her, “you’re nothing but a cow and all you’re going to do is have kids and get money.”

Instead, after taking a parenting program emphasizing life skills and encouragement from her twin sister (a teacher) who assured her “you are not stupid, you can do whatever you want,” Mekaisto returned to school.

“I never went on welfare again.”

She continued her education while grappling with residential school-related trauma that contributed to depression, nightmares, insomnia, post-traumatic stress and a toxic marriage. She eventually sought therapy, divorce and a return to the ways of her ancestors.

Mekaisto has raised five children while working full time and getting degrees in both social work (University of Calgary) and master’s of education (University of Lethbridge). This year, she’ll earn her master’s of social work (Maskwacis Community College).

That continuous learning keeps her moving forward and busy, “otherwise I’d be all messed up.”

As owner of Sikotan Ikimmapii (Sikotan in recognition of her late maternal grandmother who raised her, and Ikimmapii, a contraction of the Blackfoot word meaning to help, to care) she’s offering counselling and education focused on traditional teachings.

It’s also the focus of Mekaisto’s planned school.

“It’s our ways, how they heal us. Without them, I would not be here today.”