Indigenous-led spaces provide empowerment
As Indigenous Peoples, our journey toward truth and reconciliation in Canada is a testament to our resilience and commitment to affirming our rights and leadership.
Efforts such as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada have played a crucial role in confronting the oppressive legacies of colonization and residential schools. Yet it becomes increasingly evident that true reconciliation requires prioritizing self-determination and Indigenous leadership to prevent the resurgence of colonial dynamics in community projects.
Since 2014, the Indigenous Gathering Place Society of Calgary, a grassroots organization led by Indigenous voices, has been unwavering in its commitment to establish the city's first Indigenous gathering place. This endeavour extends far beyond mere construction; it represents the creation of a sacred space specifically tailored to our ceremonies and protocols — a space where Indigenous Peoples can share, connect, celebrate, heal and mend the fractures caused by past harms.
At the heart of our initiative is the wisdom of more than 60 elders from the Treaty 7 region, the Métis Nation of Alberta and urban Indigenous communities. We've held more than 100 community meetings, ensuring Indigenous voices are central to our vision. In 2021, our commitment was solidified through a memorandum of understanding with the City of Calgary, a pipe ceremony and a motion to dedicate land at the Bow and Elbow Rivers.
The Confluence, where the Bow and Elbow Rivers meet, holds immense significance. Known as Moh'kinsstis, this location is deeply rooted in our ancestral ties as a communal hub and a site of spiritual importance for Indigenous Peoples. By establishing our Gathering Place at Moh'kinsstis, we are not just constructing a facility; we are reclaiming a sacred space that has served as the gathering point for our ancestors for generations, long before Calgary emerged as a city.
Recent strides, such as Fort Calgary's announcement to embark on a similar effort aimed at Indigenizing the organization, are commendable. However, this underscores the continued need for culturally safe spaces for Indigenous Peoples within Calgary. While progress has been made, there remains a significant gap in genuinely Indigenous-led, purpose-built spaces. These spaces must acknowledge historical injustices and empower Indigenous communities to lead and design projects per our traditions and cultural protocols. This distinction underscores the critical necessity for initiatives that are authentically “for us, by us,” and adhere to the principle of “nothing about us without us.”
The history of colonization has not only displaced our people but also relegated us to spaces that systematically erase our cultural identity and dignity. These colonial structures, both physical and societal, have inflicted lasting harm and obstructed our right to self-determination. The continued practice of squeezing our traditions into spaces not designed for or by us perpetuates a legacy of colonialism. It is time for a profound shift.
Moh'kinsstis symbolizes more than just a physical space; it embodies a purpose-built gathering place designed, led and governed by Indigenous Peoples. It signifies the need for sacred spaces that genuinely reflect and respect our cultural practices and are conducive to our ceremonies and protocols. We require spaces where our community feels safe, supported and empowered — spaces that facilitate healing and the reclamation of our autonomy, culture and identity, which have been suppressed for far too long.
As we advance our vision, our community must grasp the importance of creating spaces that are truly led by and for Indigenous Peoples. We envision a future where the Indigenous gathering place and similar initiatives can coexist and collaborate, each contributing uniquely to a richer, more inclusive understanding of our shared history.
This is a call to all supporters, allies and members of the public to join us in this crucial endeavour. Your support can help rectify the power imbalances that have long afflicted our communities.
Support us, stand with us, join us and let us lead the way.
Elder Doreen Healy, Kainai Nation, is elder adviser to the board of the Indigenous gathering place; Shawna Morning Bull, Piikani Nation, is co-chair of the Indigenous gathering place; Buddie Dixon, Stoney Nakoda, Tsuut'ina and Kainai Nations, is co-chair of the Indigenous gathering place and Indigenous engagement facilitator at Vibrant Communities Calgary.