Edmonton opens Canada's first city Indigenous ceremony grounds

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The Metropolis of Edmonton unveiled a primary for Canada on Friday — an Indigenous ceremony website in an city setting.

Kihcihkaw askî-Sacred Land, a joint mission between the town and the Indigenous Information & Knowledge Centre nestled in Whitemud Park, will present a river valley setting to host ceremonies, sweatlodges and different occasions.

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“It’s an honour to have the primary city Indigenous ceremony website in Canada positioned in Treaty No. 6,” Grand Chief Leonard Standingontheroad mentioned in a launch. “I hope all Indigenous Peoples use the location to connect with their homelands and personal traditions.”

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Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi mentioned in a press launch the town is proud to have performed a task in constructing the location.

“By way of this partnership with the Indigenous Information & Knowledge Centre, kihcihkaw askî can be a protected place for Indigenous and non-Indigenous folks to entry and share information inside Edmonton,” mentioned Sohi.

In response to the town, the $6.51-million mission which started building in 2021, included “naturalization of the location and constructing infrastructure to help programming and cultural actions,” which can be led by IKWC. There’s a “round space for as much as eight sweatlodges and two everlasting hearth enclosures to warmth the stones for sweatlodge ceremonies,” in addition to a pavillion that features washrooms and locker rooms, plus a storage constructing with an out of doors amphitheatre.

The power can be managed and operated by IKWC.

The positioning, at 14141 Fox Dr., was chosen for its historic and cultural significance. Previous to its use as farmland, the location was utilized by Indigenous folks for harvesting medicines, in addition to a supply of ochre, a mineral utilized in conventional ceremonies.