JAMIE MEDICINE CRANE
Jamie Medicine Crane, also known as Ahsistowaki, meaning “Brave Woman” (Blackfoot), is an educator, motivational speaker, dancer, musician, fashion designer, and model, and a strong women and youth advocate. Jamie’s newest venture is performing with Curt Young, a musician/songwriter, to present Be your own Person, Follow your own Dreams utilizing contemporary and traditional Native music, song, and dance. Jamie grew up on the Blood (Kainai) reserve. Her mother comes from Piikani Nation and her father from Kainai
Who was your inspiration when you were growing up?
My parents, Ruby and James Medicine Crane. They were always there to support me through good times and bad. They pushed me to accomplish the goals and dreams Iset for myself and to share the quality and responsibility of giving back to our community. They taught me our traditional way of life, our values and customs, and gave me the confidence to succeed.
Were there any issues you dealt with as a young person that you see young people dealing with today?
Some of the issues are identity and cultural identity; racism and discrimination—from other races and from within our communities; bullying; self-esteem; peer pressure; alcohol and drugs; and lack of high-school and post-secondary education.
What is the role of a leader in the community?
A leader is someone that listens to others and helps them to visualize the future for all. He or she lends support in many ways so that the goals of the community are met. A leader is someone that can delegate, take on tasks, and show others how to be a good role model. A good leader is someone that empowers others to share their knowledge, skills, and talents with the community for the betterment for all. They help others to build their skills and confidence so they can reach their goals.
What is your vision for your community?
My vision is that we all heal from past and current traumas. I dream that all our people will find their identity, cultural identity, and purpose in life to strive for success. I envision our community to be strong, with the teachings from our ancestors and Creator to carry our people on in future generations.
If you had one message to send to the aboriginal community in north america, what would it be?
Unite all nations. Overcome our differences and protect Mother Earth for all generations.
Why is education important for our young people and their communities?
Education is our new buffalo. We must use the knowledge of our ancestors and the education of today to help build our communities of tomorrow. As our youth, you are our leaders of today who are going to make decisions and changes in your communities. Education opens many doors of opportunity and not only helps you get ahead in your future, but also helps build stronger and flourishing futures for all. It was Nelson Mandela that said, “Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world.” It only takes one person to make that change, and you can do it!
Did you have to overcome specific challenges to be where you are today?
The major challenges that I had to overcome were low self- esteem, low cultural identity, and racism. What helped me to overcome these was finding out more about First Nations culture and history, researching my family’s history, building on my strengths and weaknesses, and finding ways of facing my fears.
What is the story behind your story?
Being a First Nations woman hasn’t been the easiest thing, growing up in Southern Alberta. Throughout my childhoodI grew up on the Blood (Kainai) reserve. My mother comes from Piikani and my dad from Kainai. I was raised with our traditional Blackfoot way of life and attended Catholic school. When I was growing up my parents were a part of the Horns Society, one of the sacred societies of the Blackfoot people in which we camped at the Sundance, attended ceremonies and sweats, and still participate today. It’s a big part of who I am, as I feel it made me see life in a different perspective, especially growing up with the Catholic way of life as well. Both of these helped me to be extremely spiritual and appreciative of all cultures and views of Creator.
My great-auntie taught me how to Native Fancy Dance when I was four years old and powwow celebrations have played a big role in my life. My late grandpa Tom Medicine Crane was a part of the oldest drum group on the reserve: Big Corner Drum. We have a really big family. Family functions are always fun as we need lots of space to host everyone.Despite all the support I had in my life I suffered with low self-esteem. I didn’t enjoy getting involved in anything. What helped me overcome this was my Fancy Dancing, my culture, and finding my identity. My parents encouraged me to try different opportunities and never give up on anything. When I was 12 years old they enrolled me in modeling, and that helped raise my self-esteem.
What role should our traditions and cultures have in the lives of our first nations youth?
They should be prevalent because that will help the youthto become stronger within themselves, and give them balance and a foundation to achieve their goals and dreams. It was the Treaty 7 Chiefs that signed the Treaty in 1877 that prophesized, “Our future generations will not fight with bows and arrows; they will fight with the knowledge of two worlds.” Meaning that we need our traditional teachings, along with what we learn today through education and experiences, to become stronger and move forward. Having our traditional culture as an important part of our lives grounds us in today’s society and helps build resiliency within ourselves.
What advice would you give to young athletes and potential leaders in the communities?
Be proud of who you are and where you come from. Tryto keep balanced emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually, and remember that family and loved ones are always an important part of who you are. You are never alone no matter how hard life gets—Creator is always with you. Don’t give up on your dreams or let anyone tell you otherwise; keep trying even if you have to try over and over again.
Life gets tough and sometimes we get tested to see how strong we are. Everything happens for a reason, and when one door closes remember there’s always another one open. If you need someone to talk to, find someone and build
on your strengths and weaknesses. And remember, you are already a leader of today; there is someone that looks up to you already. So never give up. Continue to reach for your goals, and when you accomplish that goal, set another goal, and continue reaching them.
After graduating from high school I attended Lethbridge College and received a Travel and Tourism diploma, and transferred to Athabasca University where I received my first degree in Business Administration. Upon completing my degree I continued my education at the University of Lethbridge, receiving a Bachelor of Education. During that time I also opened Niitsitapi Dreams Modeling School. Niitsitapi means the real people. We had a program developed to assist young women aged 13 to 17 that helped build their self-esteem, look for their beauty within, and open their eyes to a variety of opportunities. I learned a great deal about organizing and choreographing fashion shows.
In 2003, I was honoured to be selected as Miss Kainai/ Lethbridge. I was one of the first Native women to run in Miss Universe Canada, and was awarded Miss Congeniality. Later that year I was named Miss Blackfoot Canada 2003, and was chosen as a Young Woman of Distinction from the YWCA Lethbridge.
I was also presented with an Esquao Award for Womenof Distinction from the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women. In July 2007 I was chosen to represent Canada in the YWCA’s World Council held in Nairobi, Kenya, Africa. I had the opportunity to meet over 2000 women from around the globe and perform my Fancy Dance to the Mosai drums. Currently I sit on the YWCA Canada Board of Directors as a vice-president.
I have been teaching for almost nine years. In the past few years I have been seconded as the First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) Lead Teacher to support learners’ success, bringing understanding about FNMI history and culture and building relationships with students, families, and communities.
Currently I am completing my Masters of Education in Leadership and Administration. All the experiences I have been blessed with have given me the opportunity to find my strengths and weaknesses and to become a stronger person. I value the teachings and language that have been given to us by our ancestors and hope that our people who have not found these teachings find them soon, so they can be shared with future generations.
Through my dancing I have grown to love all performing arts. I am part of a performing arts duo called Young Medicine. We perform First Nations traditional and contemporary forms of music and dance and promote all forms of performing arts. Young Medicine has performed with artists such as Adam Beach, Tom Jackson, Dallas Arcand, Dakota House, and country music singer Jesse Farrell. We have performed for crowds estimated at 45,000 people at the Calgary Stampede. Performing in Young Medicine has become one of my loves and passions, as we are able to share our culture and history while using music and dance, and we’ve been able to promote other artists through events that we host. I give all my success to Creator and my family for all their unconditional love and support in all that I do.
