Miistakis, a Blackfoot appellation referring to Rocky Mountains of Montana/Alberta/ British Columbia, is literally translated as “backbone.”

Grantee Profile

The Foundation’s support for the Miistakis Institute emanates from a recognition that for large landscape conservation to be successful over the long term there needs to exist within that landscape a balance of humankind and the natural world. Miistakis, a conservation organization affiliated with the University of Calgary, undertakes and supports pure and applied research in the ecosystems of the Rocky Mountains and surrounding regions (Miistakis is the Blackfoot word for backbone), and was founded precisely with that balance in mind.

About Our Grants

The Foundation’s 2012 grants of $20,000 and $35,000 support Miistakis’ continued efforts to develop and promote projects that connect citizens, science, and decision making. Specifically, the $20,000 grant will support the Rock Creek Corridor Initiative, the purpose of which is to develop and implement strategies to address land security and highway mitigation for wildlife in a unique area along the east slopes of the Rocky Mountains in southwestern Alberta. The $35,000 grant will support the Highway Wilding project to research and restore landscape connectivity across transportation corridors.