One Act of ReconciliACTION This National Indigenous Peoples Day

Written By Emma MacIsaac

Support the Indigenous Gathering Place

Add your voice. Help build a permanent, purpose-built, Indigenous-led Gathering Place at Moh’kinsstis.

For more than a decade, Elders, Indigenous community members, and supporters have been working toward a shared vision: a visible, purpose-built Indigenous Gathering Place at Moh’kinsstis.

This National Indigenous Peoples Day, one meaningful act of ReconciliACTION you can take is to write a letter to the Mayor and City Council in support of this vision.

Your voice matters.

Decision-makers need to hear directly from residents, organizations, businesses, Elders, youth, and community leaders about why Calgary needs a permanent Indigenous-led gathering place.

Why This Matters

Moh’kinsstis, where the Bow and Elbow Rivers meet, has been a gathering place for Indigenous Peoples since time immemorial.

The Indigenous Gathering Place is envisioned as a visible, purpose-built, Indigenous-led space where ceremony, culture, language, teachings, healing, and community connection can be carried forward for future generations.

It will be a place where:

  • Ceremony can take place

  • Culture and languages can be shared

  • Elders can pass knowledge to future generations

  • Indigenous histories and contemporary experiences can be celebrated

  • Indigenous and non-Indigenous people can learn together

  • Community can gather, heal, connect, and build relationships

  • Indigenous Peoples can feel a sense of safety, belonging and pride in a purpose-built place

Calgary has many cultural, recreational, and spiritual spaces. Yet there is still no purpose-built visible Indigenous-led gathering place that visibly reflects the cultures, histories, and ongoing presence of Indigenous Peoples in this city.

Take Action Today

Step 1: Write a Letter

Send your letter to: Mayor Jeromy Farkas: TheMayor@Calgary.ca

And your City Councillor.

Please also copy the Indigenous Gathering Place Society so we can track community support: relations@igpcalgary.com

Step 2: Share Why This Matters to You

Personal stories are powerful. You may wish to share why a permanent, purpose-built, Indigenous-led Gathering Place matters to you, your family, your organization, or your community.

Step 3: Encourage Others to Add Their Voice

Share this page with friends, colleagues, organizations, and community members who believe Calgary needs a visible Indigenous Gathering Place.

Key Messages You Can Include

You do not need to include everything. Choose the points that resonate with you.

Indigenous Leadership

The Indigenous Gathering Place must remain Indigenous-led in its vision, governance, design, and operation. Indigenous Peoples, Elders, and Knowledge Keepers have guided this vision for more than a decade, and Indigenous leadership must remain at the centre of decisions about its future.

A Purpose-Built and Visible Gathering Place

Calgary currently lacks a permanent, purpose-built, Indigenous-led gathering place that visibly reflects Indigenous culture, ceremony, teachings, and community. Indigenous Peoples deserve a dedicated space designed specifically for Indigenous gathering, learning, celebration, and connection—not a shared, temporary, or secondary space.

The Importance of Moh'kinsstis

Moh'kinsstis has been a gathering place for Indigenous Peoples since time immemorial. The Bow and Elbow Rivers have long been places where Nations gathered, traded, shared knowledge, held ceremony, and built relationships. The Indigenous Gathering Place should be located at Moh'kinsstis, where generations of Indigenous Peoples have gathered and where Elders have identified its importance.

Community Engagement

The vision for the Indigenous Gathering Place has been shaped through more than a decade of community engagement led by Elders and Indigenous community members.

Hundreds of conversations, gatherings, ceremonies, workshops, engagement sessions, and planning discussions have contributed to this vision. Indigenous Peoples, community organizations, residents, youth, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and supporters have helped shape what the Indigenous Gathering Place can become.

The Indigenous Gathering Place is not a new idea. It is the result of more than ten years of relationship-building, engagement, and community-driven planning. This vision reflects the voices, aspirations, and guidance of those who have participated throughout that journey.

Reconciliation in Action

Reconciliation requires more than acknowledgement. Creating a permanent, visible, Indigenous-led gathering place is a tangible action that demonstrates a commitment to Indigenous Peoples, cultures, and futures.

A Place for Future Generations

The Indigenous Gathering Place will create opportunities for youth, families, Elders, and future generations to connect with culture, language, teachings, ceremony, and community.

A Benefit to the Entire City

The Indigenous Gathering Place will serve Indigenous and non-Indigenous people alike by creating opportunities for learning, relationship-building, cultural exchange, understanding, and shared experiences.

Sample Letter

Dear Mayor Farkas and Members of City Council,

I am writing to express my support for the Indigenous Gathering Place and the creation of a permanent, purpose-built, Indigenous-led gathering place at Moh'kinsstis.

For generations, Indigenous Peoples have gathered where the Bow and Elbow Rivers meet. Moh'kinsstis has long been a place of gathering, ceremony, relationship-building, and cultural exchange. It is important that this history remains visible and that future generations continue to have a place to gather there.

Calgary remains one of the largest cities in Canada without a permanent Indigenous-led gathering place dedicated to ceremony, cultural learning, community connection, and celebration. Indigenous Peoples deserve a visible, purpose-built space that reflects their histories, cultures, and ongoing presence in this city.

The Indigenous Gathering Place has been guided by Elders and community members for more than a decade. I believe Indigenous leadership must remain at the centre of this vision, and I support continued work to secure a permanent home for the Indigenous Gathering Place at Moh'kinsstis.

[Share your personal connection here.]

I encourage the City of Calgary to take meaningful action by transferring land at Moh'kinsstis to support the development of a permanent, purpose-built, Indigenous-led Gathering Place and to continue working in partnership with the Indigenous Gathering Place Society, Elders, and Indigenous community members to bring this long-standing community vision to life.

Thank you for your leadership and consideration.

Sincerely,
[Name]

Organizational Letters

Organizations, businesses, institutions, and faith communities are encouraged to submit letters of support.

Your letter can speak to:

  • Why the Indigenous Gathering Place matters to your organization

  • How the space would benefit the broader community

  • Why Indigenous-led spaces are important in Calgary

  • Your support for continued City commitment to the project

Organizational letters help demonstrate broad support across Calgary.

Our Goal

Together, we aim to collect hundreds of letters from across Calgary in support of a permanent, purpose-built, Indigenous-led Gathering Place.

Every letter matters.
Every voice matters.

This National Indigenous Peoples Day, let your act of ReconciliACTION be adding your voice.

Share Your Support on Social Media

Help spread the word and encourage others to take one act of ReconciliACTION this National Indigenous Peoples Day.

After you've sent your letter, share your support on social media and invite your friends, family, colleagues, and networks to do the same.

Every post helps raise awareness and demonstrates the growing community support for a permanent, purpose-built, Indigenous-led Gathering Place at Moh'kinsstis.

Suggested Post #1

I support a visible, purpose-built, Indigenous-led Gathering Place at Moh'kinsstis.

For more than a decade, Elders and community members have worked toward this vision. Now is the time to turn reconciliation into action.

I've written a letter to Mayor Farkas and City Council. I encourage others to add their voices too.

#IndigenousGatheringPlace #Mohkinsstis #ReconciliACTION #NationalIndigenousPeoplesDay

Suggested Post #2

Moh'kinsstis has been a gathering place for Indigenous Peoples since time immemorial.

Calgary deserves a visible, permanent, Indigenous-led Gathering Place where culture, ceremony, language, and community can thrive for generations to come.

Today, I'm taking one act of ReconciliACTION by supporting the Indigenous Gathering Place.

Join me.

#IndigenousGatheringPlace #Mohkinsstis #ReconciliACTION #NationalIndigenousPeoplesDay

Tag Us

When you share your support, tag the Indigenous Gathering Place Society and encourage others to learn more and take action.

Together, we can demonstrate the broad community support for a permanent Indigenous Gathering Place in Moh'kinsstis.

Emma MacIsaac
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A Statement from the Indigenous Gathering Place Society on the Confluence Site Concept Plan