Meet the Elders
Evelyn Good Striker
Evelyn Good Striker is a Lakota Dakota from Standing Buffalo First Nation in Saskatchewan and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe in South Dakota. She grew up experiencing the shifting education policies of the federal government: attending Day School, Residential School, and eventually integrating into a public school at Fort Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan where she attained a Grade 12 education. Evelyn earned a B. Ed and an M.Ed. from the University of Lethbridge. She has been in the education profession for many years as a classroom teacher and administrator. Evelyn has enjoyed her long career as an educator and cultural advisor. She loves working with students, parents, educators, and anyone who wants to engage in the excitement of learning.
Alice Kaquitts
Elder Alice Kaquitts (Yumotata Mani) is a profoundly respected Îethka Stoney Nakoda Woman Pipe Holder and Traditional Ceremonialist from the Goodstoney Nation.
Alice observes her ontological responsibilities and honours the traditional knowledge handed down to her from time immemorial, through her lineages. She pursued formal education to further her ability to serve, earning a Diploma of Social Work from Mount Royal College in 1993 and a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Calgary in 1998.
Her journey of leadership and service is marked by numerous significant roles and honours within her community and nationally. She served as the Social Development Director of Stoney Nations as well as gained distinction as a crucial Interpreter for the Independent Assessment Process (IAP) for Residential School Survivors.
Elder Kaquitts's influence extends deeply into academic settings, particularly at Mount Royal University (MRU), where she has been a member of the MRU Traditional Thinkers (Elder Advisory) since 2016 and has been integral to the Academic Indigenous Advisory Committee (AIAC). Her direct impact on curriculum and student learning is evident through her roles as Course Elder and Co-Instructor for various courses, and as an honoured guest speaker for countless organizations both nationally and internationally.
Beyond MRU, her wisdom is sought widely. Alice serves as Elder in Indigenous Leadership and Indigenous Arts programming at Banff Centre and for Indian Oil and Gas. Elder Kaquitts is continually involved in diverse initiatives across Alberta, contributing her guidance to the City of Calgary, Elder’s Guidance Circle, Bow Valley College, National Gathering of Elders, Parks and Recreation's Indian Residential School Memorial Project (TRC Call to Action #82), as well as programs with TELUS Spark, Wilder Institute / Calgary Zoo, Alberta Health Services, St. Mary’s University, and Alberta Parks and Recreation.
Furthermore, she contributes to governance structures as a member of the Alberta First Nation Information Governance Centre and the provincial Elder Advisory for Alberta. Sharing her language and culture broadly, she also co-hosts the CJWE 88.1 FM radio show “Conversational Nakoda”.
Francis Melting Tallow
Francis Melting Tallow was born in 1936 on the Siksika Nation to Matthew and Nancy Melting Tallow. His father was from Kainai, his mother Siksika. His childhood name was Bluebird, and later in life, he was given the name Red Bull. Francis was raised by his uncle, Jack Big Eye. Francis learned a lot from Jack, including how to care for cattle and horses, which lead to his lifelong love for ranching and rodeo. He has broken a lot of horses! Jack did not attend residential school, so he had a strong base in traditional culture, which he passed on to Francis.
During his childhood, Indigenous families came from all over Western Canada to work at the coal mines in Siksika, where the common language was English. Francis attended Crowfoot Residential School from 1942-1954. His traditional background and command of the English language prepared him as an interpreter and leader among his friends and schoolmates.
After graduation, Francis attended business school in Edmonton, and then joined the Canadian Air Force for three years. He then returned to the cowboy life before becoming the first employee of Siksika Administration, beginning the operation with half a pencil! After seven years, Francis studied Social Work at the University of Calgary. He then went to work in Thompson, Manitoba at the nickel mine, before moving to Winnipeg where he worked for Native Alcohol Services and Stony Mountain Penitentiary. Returning to Calgary and Siksika, Francis worked for the Indian Association of Alberta and helped form the Treaty Alliance.
Francis has six children and more than twenty grandchildren. He lives with his wife Ruth Scalplock in Cluny. He has many horses and is an avid hunter. Francis wants to see a world where there is a real awareness of Indigenous culture and history, and the effects of colonialism. He hopes for a full rollout of Indigenous control of Child Welfare, the settling of Land Claims, and a time when Indigenous and Western ways live together.
Ruth Scalp Lock
Ruth was born on the Siksika First Nation, east of Calgary. Her Father was Blackfoot and her mother was Cree. She was raised in her traditional culture. As a young child, she was placed in the Indian Residential School, where she suffered much abuse. She survived that experience and the following years of addiction and violence. In 1974, she experienced spiritual reawakening and chose a healing path. She worked in many helping places until she had the vision to address the legacy of her people, working for many years to establish a shelter for Aboriginal women based on a cultural approach. Ruth ran for the position of MLA in southern Alberta in 1992 for the NDP. She then ran and was subsequently elected as a Band Councillor at Siksika Nation, where she sat for 18 years. In 2014, she released her book titled My Name Is Shield Woman: A Hard Road to Healing, Vision and Leadership.
Today, Ruth is a healer, community builder, and Elder. She is currently involved in the issue of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women in Canada.
Ruth is a voice for cross-cultural understanding and forgiveness, as the beginning of reconciliation of the past and building the future.
Anthony Starlight
Clarence Wolfleg Sr.
Clarence Wolfleg Sr. (Agar) is from the Siksika Nation. His traditional name, Miiksika'am, translates to “Red Crane.” This traditional Siksika name was also his fourth great grandfather’s name, who watched their eastern Siksika boundaries for many years back in the late 1700s.
Clarence attended the Old Sun Indian Residential School in Siksika and was registered by the name Agar Wolfleg. He later used his correct name, Clarence Victor Wolfleg, which came from his god father, a Siksika Chief named Chief Clarence McHugh. Clarence McHugh’s wife’s name was Victoria.
In 2013, Clarence finished his last term with Siksika Nation Chief & Council. He was elected for ten terms as a member of Siksika Council and served under many Siksika chiefs.
Clarence is a member of the Sacred Horns’ Society (Transfer of Sacred Bundle 2015) and the Brave Dog Society, which are traditional Blackfoot Societies. He is a five-year veteran of International Peace Keeping (NATO & UN) in the mid 1960s. Upon his return from the Peace Keeping Initiative, he became a police officer and served 14 years as RCMP Supernumerary Constable, and later as Alberta Special Constable.
Clarence also served as Chief of Police for the Siksika Nation and worked for Corrections Canada. He was also employed with the Native Counselling Services of Alberta (Native Programs Coordinator, Southern Alberta Area Supervisor) and was one of the first AADAC Outpatient Directors and trained through Nechi (Addictions Counsellor).
Presently Clarence is recognized as a Siksika Traditional Spiritual Leader by Siksika Nation and is a spiritual advisor (Elder) at MRU, BVC (Iniikokaan Centre), Sunrise Addiction Services, Heritage Park, Calgary Board of Education, SAIT, and City of Calgary.
On November 5, 2020, Clarence was honoured by MRU with an Honorary B.A. in Sociology, and in 2021, Clarence was honored again from MRU with an honorary Doctorate of Law.
Adrian
Adrian’s research and subsequent writings have formed foundational documents on Indigenous homelessness in Calgary and Edmonton. Published internationally, he has educated tens of thousands of individuals about Aboriginal Peoples’ history, culture, and protocols as an Educator, Executive Director, and Elder. A personal highlight for Adrian was providing cultural guidance and expertise to the Canadian, French, and Belgian governments for the 2005 Aboriginal Calling Home Ceremony.