Discussions have begun in the Bow Valley region to develop one or more Indigenous centers that will closely follow in the footsteps of Wazin Îchinabi Ti (House of Unity), which opened its doors in Cochrane on January 24.
ÎYÂRHE NAKODA — Talks have begun in the Bow Valley region to develop one or more Indigenous centers that will closely follow in the footsteps of Wazin Îchinabi Ti (House of Unity), which opened its doors in Cochrane on January 24.
The Cochrane center is the result of extensive planning by elders and leaders of the Îyârhe (Stoney) Nakoda First Nation, working in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Cochrane and like-minded neighbors.
“We chose the name Wazin Îchinabi Ti, House of Unity, because we wanted to reflect Stoney’s worldview that all of creation is interconnected,” said Trent Fox, who is an advisor to the initiative with his mother Tina.
The center was proposed as a multipurpose site to serve as a one-stop shop for tribal peoples – not just the Îyârhe Nakoda – seeking business opportunities and a spectrum of services. It also aims to create a social, cultural and economic connection with the non-indigenous community.
At the center all people are one, regardless of race or culture. It plans to operate as a not-for-profit organization providing educational programs and services to the community focused on promoting the principles of truth and reconciliation.
Most importantly, it’s Indigenous-led, said Cochrane Rotarian Michael Bopp, who sits on the center’s board of directors along with other members of the Rotary and Indigenous community.
Bopp is also a co-founder of Four Worlds International and director of the Four Worlds Center for Development Learning, dedicated to building the capacity of communities and professional organizations for sustainable participatory development. He has over 20 years of experience working with indigenous communities and development organizations in Canada and abroad.
“The center will be a kind of indigenous embassy, so anyone in the city who wants to know how to deal with indigenous protocols can visit the center to do it,” he said.
“For example, if you are asked to do an archaeological assessment, what does that have to do with indigenous peoples in the first place? Well they are the ones who live here and you have to contact elders to do that. There is a certain path that should go.”
With around 2,500 Indigenous Peoples residing in Cochrane as of the 2021 Census, being represented in the community is also important.
“Even though it’s an Indigenous center, much like a friendship center, it will also serve as a place for people to get more information, some education on Indigenous issues — not Stoney-specific,” Fox said.
“But it’s also a place for Stoney people to educate those who are interested in Stoney culture, the language, history and our relationship with government.”
In nearby Canmore, a smaller portion of the population, around 375 people, were identified as Indigenous in the 2021 census.
While Fox believes that Cochrane is more of an urban hub for the Îyârhe Nakoda due to Mînî Thnî’s proximity and affordability compared to Canmore, its nearest neighbor, he believes the centers in Canmore and Banff may offer further opportunities that To share stories of his first nation and others with connections to the region.
The Banff Canmore Community Foundation and its Moving Mountains initiative — which focuses on areas such as improving local, social and Indigenous economies, as well as environmental and cultural learning — is currently discussing the idea of potentially developing an Indigenous center in Banff. However, the organization is still in the early days of the discussion and was unwilling to confirm details with the outlook.
“Banff has historical significance not only for the Stoney but also for the Blackfoot, the Cree and the Kootenay [Ktunaxa]so I think it would be really positive,” Fox said of the initiative.
In the meantime, Travel Alberta is currently conducting a feasibility study for a future Indigenous cultural center that could potentially be located at the Canmore Visitor Information Center off Highway 1. The space is currently being used as part of a partnership with Tourism Canmore Kananaskis, who is also negotiating with the provincial tourism organization to renew use of the site.
“I think that would be beneficial not only for the Indigenous peoples, but also for the non-Indigenous community as they can start learning about Indigenous issues,” Fox said of the idea. “Really, every major urban center should have a friendship center where they can start connecting with and learning from tribal peoples.”
However, Bopp cautioned against using Indigenous centers for tourism when it comes to Banff and Canmore, saying he hopes any spaces that come to fruition are Indigenous-led and built on the principles of truth and reconciliation.
“We are at a point in this country where we are trying to heal the relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples,” Bopp said. “This country was founded on a whole lot of bad things… there are people who don’t even want to face it. But there is no reconciliation without truth.
“It’s about acknowledging the past and learning from it, but also moving forward positively to build something good.”
The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Canadian government. The location includes Îyârhe (Stoney) Nakoda First Nation and Kananaskis Country.
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