The Indigenous Gathering Place Will Have a Permanent Home at Moh’kinsstis

September 30, 2026

Today, on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we honour Survivors of residential schools, remember the children who never returned home, and recognize the families and communities who continue to carry the impacts of the residential school system.

For the Indigenous Gathering Place Society, this day holds particular meaning. Our work has been shaped and guided by Elders, including Survivors, whose knowledge, experiences and leadership have carried the vision for an Indigenous Gathering Place forward.

In the spirit of moving reconciliation from words to action, an important milestone in that journey was announced today.

A permanent home at Moh’kinsstis

During The City of Calgary’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation event at The Confluence, Mayor Jeromy Farkas announced that the Indigenous Gathering Place will have a permanent home at Moh’kinsstis, where the Bow and Elbow Rivers meet.

The City of Calgary, the Indigenous Gathering Place Society and The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland have confirmed that a portion of the lands currently operated by The Confluence will be reallocated to the Indigenous Gathering Place Society for the future Gathering Place.

This is a significant step forward for a vision that Elders and Indigenous community have guided for many years.

Moh’kinsstis has been a place of gathering, relationship and connection for Indigenous Peoples since time immemorial. Establishing the Indigenous Gathering Place here will create a visible and permanent place for Indigenous Peoples to gather, practise culture, share knowledge, hold ceremony and strengthen community for generations to come

An important step forward

We are grateful to The City for its continued commitment to advancing the Indigenous Gathering Place and helping move this vision toward a permanent home.

We are also grateful to The Confluence for its partnership and its work to recognize and share the Indigenous histories and relationships with these lands that extend far beyond the establishment of Fort Calgary.

There is still work ahead. The exact location and size of the parcel have not yet been determined. IGP, The City and The Confluence will now work together to identify the specific parcel and advance the land arrangements required for the Gathering Place.

In parallel, IGP will continue the planning, partnerships, fundraising and organizational work required to bring the Gathering Place to life.

Guided by Elders and community

This milestone has been made possible by the many Elders, Indigenous community members, leaders, partners and supporters who have carried this vision forward over the years.

Most importantly, we will continue to be guided by Elders and Indigenous community as we move into this next chapter.

On September 30, we recognize that no announcement can overshadow the purpose of this day. Our attention remains with Survivors, their families and the children who never returned home.

We share this milestone as one tangible step in the much longer work of reconciliation and toward a future where Indigenous Peoples have permanent spaces to gather, connect, practise culture and pass knowledge between generations.

The Indigenous Gathering Place will have a home at Moh’kinsstis. There is more work ahead, and we look forward to continuing that work together.