NOTICE OF MOTION Indigenous Gathering Place Land Transfer

Item # 8.2.1

ISC: Unrestricted Page 1 of 2

Report Number: EC2022-0150

Meeting: Executive Committee

Meeting Date: 2022 January 25

NOTICE OF MOTION

RE: Indigenous Gathering Place Land Transfer

Sponsoring Councillor(s): EVAN SPENCER, TERRY WONG

WHEREAS The City of Calgary Council confirmed its commitment to truth and reconciliation through the

approval of the White Goose Flying Report on 2016 June 20 (CPS2016-0377);

AND WHEREAS the White Goose Flying Report identified 18 calls to action that are directly actionable by The City of Calgary, including call to action #21 that recommends The City support the establishment of an

Indigenous healing centre and seek real estate, infrastructure and land for Indigenous ceremonial, cultural and commemorative activities;

AND WHEREAS Council, through the 2021 November midcycle budget process, committed to advance other steps towards reconciliation by supporting a land acquisition and planning to enable the conservation of a significant archeological site and a permanent memorial to recognize children who did not return from Indian residential schools;

AND WHEREAS the city of Calgary is situated on the traditional territories of Treaty 7 Nations and the

homeland of the Northwest Métis and the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3;

AND WHEREAS the land in and around the confluence of the Elbow and Bow rivers was a traditional gathering place for Indigenous Nations and continues to be of spiritual and cultural significance to Indigenous people;

AND WHEREAS the majority of lands in and around the confluence are currently owned by The City of Calgary and occupied by partners of The City of Calgary;

AND WHEREAS the Indigenous Gathering Place Society is a Registered Society incorporated in 2018 October 15 and is a Registered Charity, number 75457-6601(RR) 0001. The 50 Elders engaged by the society identified the land in and around the confluence as the definite location of the Indigenous Gathering Place;

AND WHEREAS the Indigenous Gathering Place Society has developed a business plan, dated July 2019,

that outlines land requirements between five and six acres and building specifications, and describes goals, operations and sustainability plans;

AND WHEREAS The City of Calgary and the Indigenous Gathering Place Society entered into a Memorandum of Understanding on 2021 May 26 where the parties committed to working together towards the establishment of an Indigenous Gathering Place in the city and validated their commitment through a smudge and pipe ceremony;
AND WHEREAS The City’s Indigenous Relations Office, the Calgary Aboriginal Urban Affairs Committee and the Indigenous Gathering Place Society have been working together to pursue the mission of the society to establish an Indigenous Gathering Place at the confluence;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Council direct Administration to confirm with the Indigenous

Gathering Place Society its interest in the land in and around the confluence;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Council direct Administration to engage with the Indigenous Gathering

Place Society and/or related entities regarding the location of a suitable parcel of The City of Calgary-owned land in and around the confluence of the Bow and Elbow rivers for the development of an Indigenous Gathering Place; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Council direct Real Estate & Development Services to prepare a Non-Profit

Method of Disposition Report in accordance with UCS2018-0912 Proposed Framework – Transacting with

Non-Profit Organizations below Market Value, and report back to Council through the Infrastructure and

Planning Committee no later than Q3 of 2022.