The Town of Okotoks will be taking part in a special ceremony this weekend as part of its commitment to reconciliation.
On Saturday, 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 from the Siksika, Kainai, Piikani and Southern Piikuni Nations, which make up the Blackfoot Confederacy.
The ceremony will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Laudan Park. There will be berry soup and bannock for all attendees.
Due to limited space, there will be no public parking at the event. The Town is offering a free shuttle service from the Okotoks Recreation Centre that can be booked at okotoks.ca.
In an earlier press release, the Town said the tipi transfer is a symbol of its commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous people. The tipi will be transferred in ceremony, which is an oral commitment from the Town to care for the tipi and to know its oral protocol.
The ceremony and acceptance of the painted lodge is a vow from Town council and administration that the community 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 well-being of land and people; a community to call home."
Community members had the opportunity earlier this year to leave their painted handprints on the inside walls.
Thorn said it is integral to have the community involved in the tipi transfer ceremony and the painting of the inside walls.
“This is such a significant act of reconciliation for the Town and we want to involve as many residents as possible,” she said.
