Old Sun Community College Website

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HISTORY

The name of Old Sun and the former Indian residential school structure (1929-1971) that currently houses the community college have long been associated with formal education on the Blackfoot Reserve.

The opportunity for formal schooling has been available on the Reserve since the late 1800’s and now, into the 21st century.

The school was built to accommodate the growing educational needs of Siksika members and was operated by the Anglican Church until the 1950’s when the federal government took over.

However, the 1960’s signaled a new era with integrated public schools and the Old Sun School soon became vacant. That’s when Blackfoot leaders had an idea to establish an adult learning centre.

Their plans became reality when Old Sun Community College was founded in 1971 and then incorporated in March of 1973. At first, the College was operated as a satellite campus of Mount Royal College, but in 1978, it became an independent institution run by the Blackfoot Nation.

Since 1988, Old Sun has been Assented to under Private Members Bill Pr 6 of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.



“The need for Siksika teachers studying for their degrees in their home com“The need for Siksika teachers studying for their degrees in their home community makes for a unique learning environment and a healthy presence that is felt in the whole community. A real sense of ownership of education is the special feeling that enlivens the Siksika Nation. This sense of belonging by being active voices in the mentoring of our children is the difference the Master of Teaching program contributes to the Siksika Community.”

Rev. Mervin Wolfleg Elder/Instructor B.Ed. 1986

NA TO SA PI — “Old Sun”

Old Sun was a revered medicine man and was leader of one of the largest of the Blackfoot Confederacy bands, largely because of his success as a warrior.

Old Sun was born in central Alberta around 1819 and died in 1897 on the North Camp Flats on the Siksika reserve near Gleichen. Na to sa pi was said to have received his spiritual powers from a deer during a vision quest experience. He was also known for curing blindness with a sacred amulet.

Unlike many other chiefs, Old Sun did not turn to the role of peacemaker with age, but continued the life of the warrior. His wife, Calf Old Woman, was also a renowned warrior and one of the few women to take a place in the Siksika warrior society.

In the Treaty 7 negotiations, Old Sun, the warrior, deferred to the Siksika chief of the time, Crowfoot, but signed the treaty for his band. His followers settled north of Crowfoot’s band at North Camp Flats.

Old Sun himself was not much interested in farming but assumed the role of patriarch and remained a much-respected medicine man and spiritual leader. He tolerated missionaries on his reserve but never converted to Christianity himself.

Chief Old Sun’s Blackfoot name was literally ‘Sun Elder’ or ‘Sun Old Man’. In The Blackfoot language it was NA TO SA PI. The first two syllables refer to the sun. The final two syllables of the name mean grey or white hair of an old man. But they also aesthetically imply ‘to see’, as in to gain insight.