The City of Calgary, along with the Indigenous Gathering Place Society (IGPS) and The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland, has confirmed the future Indigenous Gathering Place will have a permanent home. A portion of city-owned land currently leased to The Confluence will be reallocated to IGPS. The exact size and location of the parcel will be determined in the next phase of work between the three organizations. The permanent site will be at Moh’kinsstis, where the Bow and Elbow rivers meet. “This is a significant milestone in a journey that has been guided by the Elders and Indigenous community for many years,” said Buddie Dixon, co-chair of the Indigenous Gathering Place Society in a news release. The City says Moh’kinsstis has been a place of significance for Indigenous Peoples long before the establishment of Fort Calgary in 1875, and the future site will be rooted in that relationship. “For close to four years, The Confluence has focused on building relationships with Indigenous community members and developing offerings like the Confluence Reciprocity Program and the Holy Gathering Place,” said Jennifer Thompson, president of The Confluence. “We believe that a neighbouring Indigenous Gathering Place will be complementary to that work.” Mayor Jeromy Farkas says confirming a future home for the project marks an important step in Calgary’s commitment to reconciliation. “This is a vision that the Elders and Indigenous community have carried forward for many years,” he said. The City, IGPS and The Confluence will now work together to finalize the parcel and determine changes required to the existing land lease.
