SW Alta. recognized for indigenous efforts
The outstanding efforts of Alberta’s “heritage heroes” and the work of local organizations to preserve the province’s rich history were recognized on Oct.26 at the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation Heritage Awards.
Indigenous Heritage Award category
Awarded to projects that demonstrate excellence in identifying, protecting and promoting Alberta’s rich Indigenous heritage through research, publication and/or collaboration or public engagement with Indigenous individuals or communities.
City of Lethbridge & Blackfoot Confederacy Traditional Knowledge and Use Assessment
The Blackfoot Confederacy Nations of Alberta, Arrow Archaeology, City of Lethbridge
The TKUA project is a unique collaborative effort between the Kainai, Piikani, and Siksika First Nations and the City of Lethbridge, which contributes to expanding the definition and understanding of heritage in Lethbridge. The work of this collaboration in itself helped to build new relationships in the spirit of reconciliation.
The project assessed a number of publically accessible lands within the City of Lethbridge city limits.
Extant traditional knowledge and resources were identified, assessed and recorded. The report summarized an extensive historical overview undertaken by the Nations, including the collection and ground-truthing of traditional knowledge from each Nation.
Further it provides considerations that will help preserve Indigenous culture and help educate and inform citizens of Lethbridge and visitors about those cultures and their history.
The project reflects a desire to respect, protect and celebrate the rich Indigenous history within the lands upon which the City of Lethbridge is located, as part of working together toward reconciliation. The work was undertaken as part of the City’s South Saskatchewan Regional Plan (SSRP) Compliance Initiative, in keeping with the SSRP’s expressed desire for enhanced consideration of, and protection for, shared cultural heritage.