Welcome to the future home of the Indigenous Gathering Place in Calgary
For Indigenous Peoples. By Indigenous Peoples.
Our Vision
We share, connect, heal, renew and celebrate Indigenous cultures
The Indigenous Gathering Place is a space we’re creating together that will be a much-needed central gathering place for Indigenous Peoples’ spiritual, emotional, cultural, and social well-being in Calgary. It will be a space where we share, connect, heal, renew and celebrate Indigenous cultures. A place to protect Indigenous practices, languages, Elders’ wisdom and oral and written teachings among all nations and all our relations. We envision a place that is inclusive to all Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, accessible and centrally located with indoor and outdoor ceremony space that is culturally and historically significant, close to the river.
A Space of Healing
“An Indigenous Gathering Place will be a space of healing. Those who have been disconnected from our culture and teachings will have a chance to find their way home through Ceremony.”
—The Elders Knowledge Circle, Treaty 7 Territory
DID YOU KNOW THAT CURRENTLY THERE ARE…
500+
Cultural and spiritual places in Calgary
0
Cultural and spiritual places in Calgary for Indigenous people
Why the Indigenous Gathering Place
is needed
Indigenous Peoples have gathered to celebrate, learn, share, practice and heal for centuries. Calgary has the fifth largest urban Indigenous population in Canada and is the only large City in Canada without such a space. With over 500 places in the city devoted to cultures, gathering and spirituality, not one is specifically dedicated to Indigenous Peoples’ ceremonial practices. It’s time to change that.
The Indigenous Gathering Space is a response to this need and the Truth and Reconcilation Commision’s Call to Action #21 and City of Calgary’s White Goose Flying Report.
From dream to reality
The Indigenous Gathering Place Society of Calgary (IGPSC) is an Indigenous-led non-profit society established in 2018. IGPSC volunteers have been working together since 2014 to realize the long-held dream of a culturally safe gathering space for Indigenous Peoples and a welcoming environment for non-Indigenous individuals in Calgary. Our goal is to establish the Indigenous Gathering Place in time for the North American Indigenous Games in Calgary in 2027, which coincides with the 150-year anniversary of the signing of Treaty 7.
Elder-guided, community-driven
The Indigenous Gathering Place is founded on the deep wisdom of our Elders and shaped by the vibrant voices of our community. We ensure that every initiative truly reflects our communal needs and aspirations. Since 2017, we have hosted over 100 gatherings and meetings with Elders, Indigenous Organizations, the City of Calgary, and community members to shape the vision of The Indigenous Gathering Place.
The wisdom of Elders and community are at the heart of everything we do.
THE SITE
At the Confluence of the Bow & Elbow Rivers
Imagine a place at the heart of Calgary where the Bow and Elbow Rivers meet—a site rich in historical and spiritual significance for Indigenous peoples in Treaty 7 since time immemorial. The Indigenous Gathering Place Society of Calgary envisions our future home here—right at the home of our ancestors, the confluence, recognizing the rivers as medicine and the land as a gathering point for centuries. Centrally located, The Indigenous Gathering Place at the confluence will be accessible to all, embodying our commitment to inclusivity and connection.
Moh’kinsstis a place where our people find direction, advice, and knowledge, a place where all nations feel as if they are home.
LEARN MORE ABOUT WHY THIS SITE IS PREFERRED →
Supporters
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As Knowledge Keepers and Elders, we look forward to the IGP, a place where we are the books in a library to share our knowledge.
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“There isn’t one place in Calgary dedicated to Indigenous People’s ceremonial practices. We applaud the efforts being made to change this fact.”
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“We are excited to express our support for this very important project and committed to see it become a reality.”
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"We are in support of the Indigenous Gathering Place Society’s mission to work with The City of Calgary towards the realization of an Indigenous Gathering Place, ideally at the Fort Calgary site." - Calgary Aboriginal Urban Affairs Committee
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“The Circle for Aboriginal Relations Society would like to express our wholehearted support of the Indigenous Gathering Place.”
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"We deeply appreciate the approach of using both traditional and Indigenous and western processes and protocols in creating a gathering place that is imbued with Indigenous arts and culture."
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"In Calgary, we are sorely in need of a place where Indigenous people can gather, where we can organize programming and more, and particularly a place that is governed by Indigenous people using Indigenous ways of knowing and living and is dedicated to them.”
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“The vision of IGP is a shared one, and much larger than any single entity could undertake, it reflects a true alliance and partnership within Calgary’s diverse Aboriginal dynamic.”
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“We ask you to vote to transfer land near the confluence of the Bow and Elbow Rivers to the Indigenous Gathering Place Society of Calgary and to continue to prioritize this important project.”
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“We ask you to vote to transfer land near the confluence of the Bow and Elbow Rivers to the Indigenous Gathering Place Society of Calgary and to continue to prioritize this important project.”
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“We can think of no stronger act than the creation of an Indigenous Gathering Place, particularly in the downtown where strong arts and culture infrastructure exists.”
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“The IGP has our full support as the realization of an Indigenous Gathering Place would be a response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Call-to-Action #21.”
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“The Indigenous Gathering Place is now, and will in the future, enhance the landscape of Calgary by being an accessible avenue for relationship building between the Indigenous community and the greater Calgary community. It can only benefit all Calgarians.”
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“The IGP will ...be an accessible avenue for relationship building between the Indigenous community and the greater Calgary community. It can only benefit all Calgarians.”
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“When the Indigenous Gathering Place is built in Calgary, it will be a gift for all Calgarians. It is a way of making truth and reconciliation real. It is a way of recognizing whose land we gather on.”
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“The IGP also has the potential to position Calgary as a leader in reconciliation efforts, which could contribute to our local economic and social recovery efforts.”
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“The IGP will address many gaps and reduce pressure in the social service sector, while providing the necessary space to protect traditional Indigenous practices, languages, Elders’ wisdom, and oral and written teachings.”
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“It’s clear that the need for an Indigenous Gathering Place for cultural practice, cultural revitalization, and virtuous relationships addressing reconciliation and cultural safety in the urban setting is critical in Calgary. CHF is pleased to endorse this mission and project.”
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“This will benefit all Calgarians as we work towards reconciliation and building greater understanding. I look forward to the completion of this project where we as Indigenous peoples can have a place to call our own.”
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“An IGP could become an important focal point for our community to engage with Elders, Knowledge Keepers and Indigenous community members to learn, teach, connect and celebrate the ways of knowing and doing.”
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“YW Calgary is grateful for the vision of the IGP as a consistent hub where organizations across the city can connect with one another, share resources, and connect directly with Indigenous Peoples on their ideas surrounding reconciliation.”
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The IGP is for all Indigineous Peoples and will provide an important and historic opportunity for the City of Calgary to provide this space and place to broaden the accessibility of Indigenous community and culture...
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As an organization on our own Reconciliation journey, we would hugely value a consistent hub where we can connect with like-minded organizations, share resources, and connect directly with Indigenous People as we learn and grow.
Together, we can create a space for ceremony, connection and celebration.
You can help.
The Indigenous Gathering Place is gaining momentum in Calgary. But we’re not there yet. With your support, we can achieve this monumental milestone.
Here’s how you can take action today.
Advocate
Your voice matters. See how you can help advance the Indigenous Gathering Place.
Land Acknowledgement
In the spirit of respect, reciprocity and truth, we honour and acknowledge Moh’kinsstis, and the traditional Treaty 7 territory and oral practices of the Blackfoot confederacy: Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, as well as the Îyâxe Nakoda and Tsuut’ina nations. We acknowledge that this territory is home to the Otipemisiwak Métis Government of the Métis Nation within Alberta District 6. Finally, we acknowledge all Nations – Indigenous and non – who live, work and play on this land, and who honour and celebrate this territory.
As a community dedicated to fostering connection and understanding, we at the Indigenous Gathering Place Society recognize the deep history and enduring presence of Indigenous Peoples in this region.
We are committed to building relationships based on mutual respect and dialogue and to continually learn from and with the original caretakers of these lands.
Stay Connected
