Ruth Provost

Ruth Provost is of Indigenous descent from the Kainai Nation, a Nation member of the Blackfoot Confederacy. Ruth resides in Fort MacLeod, Alberta with her husband Ira Provost, who she has been married to for the last 24 years. Together they have three children; Tyrone, Miracle, and Aryelle. Their children have blessed them with four grandsons and two granddaughters and one more grandson on the way.

Ruth has a degree from the University of Lethbridge in Native American Studies in First Nations Self-Government, Management and Research. Ruth founded her own First Nation management consulting firm under the name Alberta First Nations Research and Consulting (AFNRC).

AFRNC is home of the Reclaiming the Power of the Buffalo Review and Evaluation, a four-phase research methodology in working with oral culture and bridging it to mainstream government, industries, and other systems.

Ruth’s Blackfoot cultural heritage is the heart and foundation of her passion. She is a leader who advocates and works to preserve her cultural identity, language, customs, practices, and ways of knowing. Her work in traditional knowledge honors the

youngest members of the family and tribe to instill Blackfoot values and beliefs in the next generation.

Ruth has worked over 14 years with her Nation’s post-secondary education, operating their incorporated charitable foundation, supporting a new post-secondary education building as well as fundraising to support both programs and services. She has also written a number of business plans and proposals for numerous entrepreneurs while mentoring them in their dreams and ambition of starting their own business.

Through her Reclaiming the Power of the Buffalo Review and Evaluation, she has completed a number of organizational evaluations for major systems such as Child and Family Protection Services for the Piikani and Kainai Nations. Ruth has also evaluated the Piikani Post-Secondary system. One of her proudest accomplishments was completing the Honoring Life Youth Suicide Prevention Conference for two consecutive years using only her cultural knowledge system and leaders in the facilitation. A complete renewal and uplifting experience was long felt by the community and all involved.

More recently, Ruth through her conservation work has been supporting Piikani Consultation and Piikani Traditional Knowledge Service on Biocultural diversity work, keystone species, and a Piikani Charter. Ruth is currently supporting the global international efforts of the Arramat initiative who is providing global research and action to support the health and well-being of the environment and people. Ruth has just completed a Lodge Pole Pine Blackfoot Keystone species documentary and hopes to use it as a guideline in advancing other indigenous people throughout the world.