Reconciliation Week to focus on language

Reconciliation Week, (Sept. 15-20), will kick it up a few notches this year with daily events planned throughout the community to explore the complexities of the relationship with our local Blackfoot and Indigenous peoples.

“This is our third year,” said Perry Stein, Indigenous relations adviser with the City of Lethbridge. “This year our focus is on Indigenous language. This is the International Year of Indigenous Languages, and that means celebrating Blackfoot and all (Indigenous) languages spoken in Lethbridge.”

To support this theme, the Reconciliation Lethbridge Advisory Committee will be bringing forth a proposed motion to Lethbridge city council at next Monday’s public meeting to declare “Oki,” the Blackfoot word for “Welcome,” as the official greeting of the City of Lethbridge.

“We are trying to focus on Blackfoot language in this International Year of Indigenous Languages,” Stein said, “and this is an opportunity from the committee’s perspective to celebrate culture, to build bridges between communities and to acknowledge the traditional inhabitants of this territory.”

The Reconciliation Committee is also working with the Heart of our City Committee to create a large “Oki” greeting sign for downtown Lethbridge which will be officially unveiled in the coming weeks, Stein confirmed.

Kicking off Reconciliation Week activities next Monday will be a Reconciliation flag-raising event at 10:30 a.m. in front of city hall followed by a Walk for Reconciliation to the Galt Museum. Luncheon will be served at 11:45 a.m. at the museum with a keynote speech presented by well-known local film star Eugene Brave Rock.

Stein wanted to encourage the public to come out and take part in any or all of these free events throughout the week.

“Curiosity is a great path toward empathy and understanding, and connection,” Stein said. “So coming out and participating in one of the events, or coming out to listen to one of our talks, is a great way to learn and create relationships that can help you learn more about Reconciliation, and the Blackfoot community and culture going forward.”

For more information on Reconciliation Week events in Lethbridge visit