May 2017 Newsletter

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Indigenous Policy Framework – Newsletter May 2017

Over the last several years there has been a significant focus on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and how the recommendations coming out this challenging and important work impact us all. Many people mistakenly believe this to be an Aboriginal issue when, in fact, it is a Canadian issue, a Calgarian issue and a community-building issue.

Understanding that we all have a responsibility to heal our relationship with our indigenous brothers and sisters, your City Council has taken meaningful and lasting steps forward in a shared process of truth and reconciliation. These steps include: the publication of the White Goose FlyingReport (2016) that looks at the local adaptation for the TRC's 18 calls to action, the renaming of the Langevin Bridge to Reconciliation Bridge in January 2017, the permanent raising of the Treaty 7 flag in March 2017 and, most recently, the Indigenous Policy Framework presented at the Standing Policy Committee on Community and Protective Services in April 2017.

The Indigenous Policy Framework is intended to establish the necessary policies and practices for the City of Calgary to move forward by understanding our shared history and how, as a municipality, we can be an active partner in the process of reconciliation. This incredible document is, in all honesty, one of the best reports I have ever seen come out of the City of Calgary and the first of its kind in Canada. It is something that I encourage all Calgarians to take the time to thoughtfully read.

The Indigenous Policy Framework is, in essence, Calgary’s creation story. Using the incredible expertise of our traditional knowledge keepers from the Treaty 7 First Nations, it describes how, since the beginning of time, this land has been a shared land. It has welcomed people from different backgrounds to live and prosper here and build communities that celebrate our diversity and thrive because of it.

This is the story of Treaty 7 people and we are all Treaty 7 people.

In honouring the creation story of our city we begin to recognize its contemporary significance and how it dovetails with the idea of great neighbourhoods. Great neighbourhoods are built on diverse people coming together, sharing the land and building community. This is still everything we are still working toward today. 

In June we will be hosting the official renaming ceremony for the Langevin Bridge. I encourage all of you to come out and celebrate this historic moment.

Yours,

Gian-Carlo​​