Twice a year, First Nations from across Treaty 7 gather at Central United Church for Feed the People, an event that nourishes far more than the body. What began as the vision of September Daniels, in memory of her late brother Jason, has grown into a lifeline for urban Indigenous community members seeking recovery, wellness and belonging. The gathering blends practical support with cultural grounding through drumming, hoop dancing and round dancing, reminding all that healing happens when people walk together in care.
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| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
Elder James E. Evanson of the Canada Area Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was invited to meet with the organizers and community partners at the event on November 25, 2025. Elder Evanson joined Glenn LaValle< from Siksika Family Services to participate in the Walking the Wolf Trail program, which involves street outreach and the distribution of hats, mittens, socks and other essentials to community members facing winter cold. /p>
LaValle noted that the needs are significant: “Our program serves over 6,000 people every few months.” The program is rooted in the teaching that the wolf pack moves at the pace of its most vulnerable — no one is left behind. These values resonate with Latter-day Saint beliefs about ministering to “the one.”
Outreach worker Taide Crane of Tsuut'ina reflected: “Jesus Christ was the best example of street outreach, when you think about it.”
Charity Fleming, CEO of Siksika Family Services and a Church member, noted, “We understand the needs of our urban Indigenous community, and we want our street relatives to know that we care, that we are here and that we carry kimmapiiypitsin — compassion.”
A similar sentiment was echoed recently by Blood Tribe Chief Traveller Plaited Hair at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Lethbridge Light the World Giving Machine on November 15, 2025. He described compassion as a sacred responsibility to lift those who struggle and as an important Blackfoot teaching.
For many volunteers at the Feed the People event, the work is deeply personal. “Connection is medicine for the spirit,” said Melvina Hunter of Mînî Thnî, who shared her own recovery story. “We call each other brother and sister to remind one another we are all family.”
Elder Evanson emphasized the spiritual dimension of this work: “When we serve with compassion, we see people as the Saviour sees them — full of worth and potential. Jesus reminds us that He ‘came not to be ministered unto, but to minister’ (Matthew 20:28). He invites us to do the same, one by one. Every act of kindness is a step toward healing hearts and strengthening communities.”
Feed the People allows Indigenous partners and faith communities to unite in caring for those who are most vulnerable, walking together to ensure no one is forgotten. Hope is renewed one brother and sister at a time.