Api’soomaahka (Running Coyote) – William Singer III to receive 2026 Lieutenant Governor’s Award

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Bluesky
• Share on X
• Copy Link

The AMA says his work stands as a testament to his commitment not only to artistic excellence, but to the preservation and advancement of Blackfoot cultural identity.

GreenFox

Why waiting to replace your windows and doors could cost you more than you think

Jul 22, 2026

Nighttime construction on Hwy 3 in Lethbridge starts April 17

Apr 17, 2025

SASHA launches #BuyABed fundraiser to support vulnerable Lethbridge residents

Apr 04, 2025

Officials note, Api’soomaahka’s work has had a significant and lasting impact through cultural and artistic initiatives across southern Alberta. They say his public art contributions at the University of Lethbridge embody Blackfoot language, worldview, and reconciliation.

At Lethbridge Polytechnic, his work is said to serve as a teaching tool rooted in traditional Blackfoot visual storytelling. His contributions are also reflected in projects and programming with the Galt Museum & Archives, the City of Lethbridge, and the Southern Alberta Art Gallery, where he is said to have strengthened public engagement, cultural interpretation, and community-based artistic learning.

Through workshops, programming, and land-based initiatives, AMA officials say he continues to share knowledge of prairie plants and Blackfoot ecological teachings through an artistic and cultural lens, bridging artistic practice with cultural transmission and deeply influencing communities across Lethbridge.

At the provincial level, the AMA says his work with the Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA), along with his contributions within emerging media platforms and post-secondary environments, has played a significant role in shaping evolving artistic sectors.

While engaging with contemporary and technology-driven forms of artistic expression, officials say his practice remains firmly rooted in the traditional foundations of Blackfoot culture. This ability to move seamlessly between innovation and tradition, says the AMA, has enabled him to expand artistic practice in meaningful and transformative ways, reinforcing the continued relevance and strength of Indigenous art and cultural knowledge within modern and evolving creative fields.

“Api’soomaahka’s contributions to Alberta’s cultural sector demonstrate his lifelong commitment to the weaving together and strengthening of communities, artistic practices, and Blackfoot culture,” said Jennifer Forsyth, Executive Director / CEO, in a press release Monday.

The Lieutenant Governor’s Award recognizes Api’soomaahka’s enduring contributions to art, culture, and community.

The AMA says it will present Api’soomaahka with the award at the Association’s 55th Anniversary Gala and Leadership Awards Ceremony presented by Know History on Sept. 23, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at the Wyndham Edmonton Hotel and Conference Centre, held as part of the Alberta Museums Association’s 2026 Conference, The Adaptable Museum: Embracing Creative Stewardship for a Sustainable Future.