Ómahksípiitaa - Big Eagle

Through the wisdom and guidance of his Elders and his late mother, Ómahksípiitaa - Big Eagle (Dan Fox) has become an advocate for the buffalo and for Blackfoot cultural revitalization. Dan was born and raised on the Blood Reserve as a member of the Many Children Clan. Dan and his family operate a ranch just north of Cardston, where the bison he raises become the bridge to span the relationship and cultural gaps that exist between Blackfoot Elders and youth, and between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. 

Dan also works in the realm of social work as an Indigenous Health Liaison with AHS out of Pincher Creek,  where he helps to bridge the gap between medical professionals and Indigenous patients. He has also worked with Children's Services to connect Blackfoot children in foster care with their family, language and culture within the Kainai community as a supervisor of the Blackfoot Language & Culture Program, was a Crisis Response worker with Kainai Mental Health for 26 years (on-call rotation) and was a supervisor of Kainai Corrections for 24 years where the focus was rehabilitation through the Blackfoot Culture. 

For Dan, Blackfoot Culture and the bison are his walk of life. The bison are a tool for him to translate and share knowledge between worlds. He believes strongly in Iiyikssko–or the importance of creating a path or leaving a legacy to follow for the generations that come after you.