“Spanning generations, acknowledgement of the land is a traditional custom of Indigenous people when welcoming outsiders onto their land and into their homes. To build respectful relationships, acknowledging the land is an important part of reconciliation. It honours the authentic history of North America, its original people and tells the story of the creation of this country that has historically been missing.” – The Calgary Foundation
Calgary is situated on land adjacent to where the Bow River meets the Elbow River, on Treaty Seven territory; this place has been given many names by many people: Mohkinstsis by the Blackfoot Confederacy, Wîchispa Oyade by the Stoney Nakoda, Otos-kwunee by the Metis, and Guts-ists’i by the Tsuut’ina. This is a land that has nourished and been cared for by Indigenous people for many thousands of years.
With gratitude, mutual respect, reciprocity and truth, we honour and acknowledge this land and the people who have lived here for countless generations. We honour and recognize the traditional Treaty 7 territory and oral practices of the Siksikaitsitapi – Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, and Piikani), as well as the Stoney Nakoda (Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney) and Tsuut’ina First Nations. We acknowledge that this territory is home to the Otipemisiwak Métis Government of the Métis Nation within Alberta Districts 5 and 6.
