The Blackfoot Confederacy Tribal Council is advancing plans for a non-market housing community for low-income Blackfoot families in Calgary, as work continues under its formal partnership with the City of Calgary.
In a request for proposals reissued October 26, the Confederacy said it had secured $3.5 million in City funding for land acquisition. It is now seeking a qualified organization to carry out the first phase of planning and development preparation.
The proposed community is intended to combine affordable homes with spaces for ceremony and gatherings. The initial work includes engagement with Blackfoot community members, finding potential land, assessing sites, preparing for municipal approvals and planning how the development could be financed and built.
The first-phase planning contract has a maximum budget of $135,000, with proposals due December 15. The housing community does not yet have a confirmed site, final number of homes or construction start date in the published proposal.
An agreement signed in 2025
The City and the Blackfoot Confederacy signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Communication and Cooperation on May 9, 2025. The agreement established a formal framework for working with the Siksika, Piikani and Kainai Nations on shared priorities.
The memorandum is not legally binding. Instead, it sets out a process for regular dialogue and joint work in areas including housing and homelessness, economic development, tourism, arts and culture, and events and communications.
On June 1, 2026, Blackfoot Confederacy Chiefs and Tribal Council representatives met with Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas at City Hall. The Confederacy said staff from both sides had been meeting regularly to move the partnership's priorities forward. Calgary's official flag-raising calendar also lists an October 30 ceremony for the Blackfoot Confederacy flag, marking the first report back on the agreement.
Where the housing funding fits
The Blackfoot housing initiative is part of a wider City program for Indigenous-led non-market housing. In March, Calgary announced $33 million for 24 projects led by Indigenous Nations and organizations, with the potential to support up to 379 homes. The Blackfoot Confederacy Tribal Council was among the recipients of planning and land-purchase support.
The Confederacy's current proposal is specifically for the preparatory stage. Land acquisition funding and a call for development proposals do not mean the housing has been approved for construction or that residents can apply for homes.
The Tribal Council says the goal is to create a culturally grounded, self-sustaining community that addresses the housing needs of low-income Niitsitapi families living in Calgary.
Original sources: Blackfoot Confederacy housing proposal; City's 2025 agreement announcement; Blackfoot Confederacy's June 2026 partnership update; City Indigenous housing program announcement.