Calgary Stampede Board Director Buddie Dixon Receives One of the Highest Honours in First Nations Culture

During the Treaty 7 Community Futures conference on Nov. 20, in a ceremony led by Elders Dwayne Mistaken Chief, Jonathan Red Gun and Clarence Wolfleg, Calgary Stampede Board Director Buddie Dixon received one of the highest honours in First Nations culture, the transfer of a Blackfoot headdress.

“I was caught off guard,” Buddie said. “I never thought I would be receiving one. I always questioned if I was doing the right thing, and this felt like a validator saying, ‘yeah, keep going down this path.’”

Traditionally, the headdress was transferred to individuals who demonstrated great bravery, such as counting coup in war, protecting territory or being recognized for spiritual connection. Today, a headdress recognizes personal and professional accomplishments, service to community, education and commitment to helping others. Those who receive a headdress are seen as leaders who have earned the responsibility to help guide their people.

Buddie’s own path toward leadership began long before he realized it. Raised between the Kainai, Tsuut’ina and Stoney Nakoda Nations, with close ties to Siksika, his childhood was filled with movement and culture. He spent his early years on Kainai with his grandparents, surrounded by rodeo, ranching and ceremony. “The Indigenous worldview is a people-centered, community-centered approach,” he said. “The community was always taken care of. No one was left behind.”

In his later childhood years, Buddie moved to Calgary, which brought new challenges. As the only Indigenous student in his school, he experienced racism early on. “Going through that at a young age allowed me to understand the Western views on the way things were done,” he said. “Now I spend a lot of time trying to bridge those two gaps and create understanding for everybody.”

When the 2013 floods devastated the Stoney Nakoda and Siksika Nations, he returned to his communities to help. On the ground, he witnessed a significant cultural disconnect between the First Nations people and the outside contractors. “Progress wasn’t happening because the two worlds weren’t aligned,” he said. Stepping in to bring those worlds together sparked his work in community resilience.

Earlier this year, Buddie co-founded Bridgeway Partners, a consulting firm that helps First Nations prepare for climate-related emergencies. He also serves as Co-Chair of the Indigenous Gathering Place Society of Calgary.

These years spent bridging worlds, lifting communities and paving a path forward led to the moment he received his headdress. Made with golden eagle feathers, a rare and significant feature, the headdress also includes blue-and-white beadwork reflecting the colours used by his great-grandfather, Harry Shade, who gifted Buddie his Blackfoot name, Mia’nistohkotoka which means “Many Different Rocks”.

Guided by the values he was raised with, Buddie sees this honour as a reminder of the work still ahead. “If I can carry the load, have tough conversations and knock down some barriers now, hopefully the younger generation won’t have to. That’s what keeps me moving forward.”