Ruth Scalp Lock is a

Siksika The Siksika Nation ( bla, Siksiká) is a First Nation in southern Alberta, Canada. The name ''Siksiká'' comes from the Blackfoot words ''sik'' (black) and ''iká'' (foot), with a connector ''s'' between the two words. The plural form of ''Siks ...

First Nation woman who founded a domestic violence shelter in

Calgary Calgary ( ) is the largest city in the western Canadian province of Alberta and the largest metro area of the three Prairie Provinces. As of 2021, the city proper had a population of 1,306,784 and a metropolitan population of 1,481,806, makin ...

. She was placed into the Canadian Indian residential school system for fourteen years. In 1974, Scalp Lock experienced a spiritual awakening where she decided to change her life by embracing healing. Scalp Lock has dedicated over 40 years of her life to helping her community members and urban Indigenous families in Calgary, Alberta. Scalp Lock was one of the first Indigenous women in southern

Alberta Alberta ( ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Ter ...

to make a connection between Indigenous families and social workers by establishing trust and concern through working with the families in order to keep the family circle strong.

Awo Taan Native Healing Lodge

In 1986, Scalp Lock came together with a group of concerned people to make a safe place for Indigenous women and children escaping from

abuse Abuse is the improper usage or treatment of a thing, often to unfairly or improperly gain benefit. Abuse can come in many forms, such as: physical or verbal maltreatment, injury, assault, violation, rape, unjust practices, crimes, or other t ...

and in need of shelter. It was Scalp Lock’s dream to open a Native Women’s Shelter in Calgary. Finding a location for and then opening the shelter took many years and had the support of Mayor Alder,

Ralph Klein Ralph Philip Klein (November 1, 1942 – March 29, 2013) was a Canadian politician and journalist who served as the 12th premier of Alberta and leader of the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta from 1992 until his retirement in 20 ...

, and many other local leaders. In 2007, the shelter was renamed Awo Tann Healing Lodge, "Awo Taan" meaning 'shield', which was given to Scalp Lock's grandmother, Margaret Bad Boy and her husband at a Sundance in 1930. In a ceremonial gathering, Bad Boy gave Scalp Lock the name Awo Taanaakii (Shield Woman), a name which recognizes her role as a protector to women and children. The lodge is a shelter uniquely designed for Indigenous families because of its traditional and spiritual healing practices, such as the

medicine wheel To some indigenous peoples of North America, the medicine wheel is a metaphor for a variety of spiritual concepts. A medicine wheel may also be a stone monument that illustrates this metaphor. Historically, most medicine wheels follow the basic ...

, speaking with Elders, and

smudging Smudging, or other rites involving the burning of sacred herbs (e.g., white sage) or resins, is a ceremony practiced by some Indigenous peoples of the Americas. While it bears some resemblance to other ceremonies and rituals involving smoke (e.g. ...

References

Living people Siksika Nation people Activists from Alberta Year of birth missing (living people) {{NorthAm-native-bio-stub