An Indigenous Perspective

We are seeing our identity shift as a city. Calgary is the third most racialized city in the county. Yet, we grapple with the historical and contemporary exclusion of critical voices in shaping Calgary’s community prosperity and with what the narrative and experience of Calgary are in the context of Treaty 7.

We are taking a deep dive into measuring Indigenous community prosperity to understand how Calgary is doing. Treaty 7 enabled Calgary’s community prosperity, which is a function of our collective ability to honour the intent of the Treaty and, more broadly, of the imperative to act upon reconciliation and the pursuit of right relations.  

We engaged a student to assist with reaching out to Indigenous organizations and knowledge keepers to deepen our shared understanding of what matters and how we approach identifying and measuring indicators of community prosperity important to Indigenous peoples living in Calgary and, more broadly, within Treaty 7. 

Angela Bear Chief’s report outlines some important considerations for meaningfully including Indigenous voices in measuring what matters, probes the kinds of measures and broader practices worth considering, and outlines some of the existing efforts already underway locally, nationally, and internationally from which we might draw inspiration or learning. In compiling this report, I have contacted Indigenous organizations and knowledge keepers, including but not limited to Indigenous members of Treaty 7 Nations, to deepen our shared understanding.

Having a common understanding of cultural competencies is an important starting point before you delve into how we should go about measuring prosperity. Seek opportunities to learn in ceremony or go out on the land and learn how to pick medicine in a good way.

Jacie Alook