During the recent opening ceremonies of the International Peace Powwow in Lethbridge, Alberta, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints presented a humanitarian donation to the Blackfoot Family Lodge Society (BFLS) to support its Soaring Hearts program. The C$70,111 (US$50,000) contribution will help furnish 16 two‑bedroom transitional apartments for Indigenous women and children transitioning from reserve communities to urban life.
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BFLS Executive Director Mary Ann Crow Healy; BFLS Board Chair Lance Tailfeathers; Elder Douglas W. Atwood, Area Seventy; his wife, Sister Rachel Atwood; and President Kent Earl of the Lethbridge Alberta West Stake presidency stood together in a show of shared commitment during the presentation. Also present were Cheryl Seaborn, stake communication director; Charity Fleming, co-ordinating council communication specialist; and Grant Spotted Bull, member of the Canada Area Indigenous Relations Council, reflecting the collaborative effort that helped bring this initiative forward.
Founded in 1993, BFLS promotes Blackfoot culture, strengthens community networks and supports women and children who are often leaving difficult situations. Through second‑stage affordable housing and wraparound support services, the society empowers families with life‑skills development, cultural connection and pathways to long‑term stability. Since its establishment, BFLS has supported more than 1,200 families in southern Alberta.
Crow Healy expressed deep gratitude: “What an incredible blessing. This donation from the Church will provide a sense of comfort, dignity and belonging to Indigenous women and their children, creating a stable environment for them to focus on education, employment and healing. It will be a huge weight off their shoulders as they work towards sustainable livelihoods.”
Seaborn, who collaborated closely with BFLS, shared her admiration for the organization’s work: “When I first met Mary Ann Crow Healy a year ago, she shared her vision of supporting Indigenous women and their children by giving them opportunities to improve their lives and circumstances. Today, that vision continues to progress with new transitional housing and this humanitarian support to furnish it. It has been an honour to link arms with the Blackfoot Family Lodge Society as they build brighter futures for Indigenous families in our community.”
This partnership effort aligns with the Church’s global commitment to relieve suffering and strengthen families. As President Dallin H. Oaks emphasized in an October 2025 press conference: “Our ministry is a ministry of all the children of God on the face of the earth. We pray for all. We seek to serve all” (“Watch: New First Presidency to Be Named,” October 14, 2025).