Sept. 21, 2022

Treaty 7 Day at UCalgary honours lived experiences of First Nations peoples

Sept. 22 event celebrates Indigenous resilience and fortitude

The University of Calgary recognizes that we are all treaty peoples. Sept. 22 marks the 145th anniversary of the making of Treaty 7 (1877), between the Dominion of Canada and the First Nations of the area. To honour the oral histories and lived experiences of First Nations peoples and reflect on the impacts of the making of Treaty 7, the University of Calgary’s Office of Indigenous Engagement has virtual and in-person events planned on Sept. 22.

Presented as an agreement between the Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, Stoney Nakoda and Tsuut’ina people and the non-Indigenous settlers in Canada, Treaty 7 proposed a peaceful relationship between the communities. Both parties were to share the land and its resources equally, with no interference with their ways of life.

Come join in and learn more about First Nations perspectives, worldviews, and oral histories and celebrate Indigenous resiliency.

Treaty 7 Day was preceded by a private Pipe Ceremony on Sept. 15. The ceremony serves as a reminder that we are all treaty peoples and calls back to the spirit of the treaty when a similar ceremony took place. The time between the ceremony and Treaty 7 Day is left open to encourage participants to reflect on what it means to be part of a treaty, and the importance of that agreement.

Public events will take place Sept. 22, including a webinar panel discussion with Indigenous leaders and Elders. Later in the day, a special round dance takes to the TFDL quad on the main campus; everyone is invited to experience this traditional community celebration.

Webinar panel discussion

Join us online as we learn about the lived experiences of “Status” First Nations who will share their perspectives on treaty-making and providing context into the historical impact of Treaty 7.

The webinar panel will feature Siksika Blackfoot Knowledge Keeper Stewart Breaker, BA’13; former Tsuut'ina First Nation Chief Lee Crowchild; Stoney Nakoda Elder Tina Fox; and moderator Paige Thomas, BA’16, BSW’19, recipient of the first Inter Pipeline Award for Indigenous Law Students. The event will include special remarks from Dr. Sarah Carter, PhD, with the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Native Studies. 

Time: 12 – 1:30 p.m.

Location: online (Zoom webinar)

Round dance

Join us to celebrate and honour First Nations cultures within Treaty 7 as we welcome everyone to participate in a round dance, featuring a live performance from the Eya Hey Nakoda drum group. 

Time: 3 – 4:30 p.m. 

Location: University of Calgary, Taylor Family Digital Library Quad 

ii’ taa’poh’to’p, the University of Calgary’s Indigenous Strategy, is a commitment to deep evolutionary transformation by reimagining ways of knowing, doing, connecting and being. Walking parallel paths together, “in a good way,” UCalgary is moving toward genuine reconciliation and Indigenization.