A Call For True Indigenous Leadership and Purpose-Built Spaces

Published in the Calgary Herald, May 9, 2024: https://calgaryherald.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-more-need-for-genuine-indigenous-led-gathering-spaces

As Indigenous Peoples, our journey towards truth and reconciliation in Canada is a testament to our resilience and commitment to affirming our rights and leadership. Initiatives like the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada have played a crucial role in confronting the oppressive legacies of colonization and residential schools. Yet, as we continue our journey, 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 initiative led by Indigenous voices, has been unwavering in its commitment to establishing 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 over 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 that the voices of Indigenous Peoples 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 recent announcement to embark on a similar initiative aimed at Indigenizing their 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.

The Indigenous Gathering Place at 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, it is imperative that our community 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, and Elder Advisor to the Board of the Indigenous Gathering Place
Shawna Morning Bull, Piikani Nation, Co-Chair of the Indigenous Gathering Place
Buddie Dixon, Stoney Nakoda, Tsuut’ina and Kainai Nations, Co-Chair of the Indigenous Gathering Place and Indigenous Engagement Facilitator at Vibrant Communities Calgary