The Town of Okotoks will be taking part in a special ceremony come summer as part of its commitment to reconciliation.
On June 3, the Town is being honoured with the transfer of a traditional Blackfoot painted lodge (tipi). This tipi will be transferred to Mayor Tanya Thorn, on behalf of the Town of Okotoks, by four Blackfoot elders. These elders are from the Siksika, Kainai, Piikani and Southern Piikuni Nations, which make up the Blackfoot Confederacy.
In a press release, the Town said this tipi transfer is a symbol of its commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous people. With the transfer, comes a great responsibility to the Town. The tipi will be transferred in ceremony, which is an oral commitment from the Town to care for this tipi and to know its oral protocol. The ceremony and acceptance of this painted lodge is a vow from Town council and administration that as a community it will continue to honour its Indigenous partners.
Following traditional oral protocol, only certain individuals from Town council, administration and invited guests will be present inside the tipi for the formal transfer ceremony. However, the community is invited and encouraged to attend the tipi transfer from outside of the tipi and witness this powerful act of reconciliation in the community.
Elders from Treaty 7 were instrumental in helping translate the Town’s vision statement into a beautiful design on the outside of the tipi. The Town adopted a new vision statement in the fall of 2022 which is: "A vibrant, resilient and connected community that fosters wellbeing of land and people; a community to call home."
The painting of the tipi has been underway for months and there are three upcoming dates — March 16, 17 and 18 — where community members will have the opportunity to leave their painted hand print on the inside walls.
“It is integral that we have the community involved in the tipi transfer ceremony and the painting of the inside walls,” said the mayor in a statement. “This is such a significant act of reconciliation for the Town and we want to involve as many residents as possible.”
Find the tipi liner painting event details on Okotoks.ca/Tipi-Painting.
