Almost 140 years after the signing of Treaty 7, the flag that now represents the five signatory Nations flies at Calgary City Hall.
Mayor Naheed Nenshi hosted Treaty Seven leaders, elders, and spectators for a ceremony to raise the flag on March 23. To First Nations people in this region, it was a significant moment.
The land where Calgary is now located is traditional territory of the Blackfoot, Cree, Tsuut’ina and Stoney Nakoda. The Metis also had a presence in this region.
In the Blackfoot language, Calgary is known as Mokkinstsis (Elbow in English). The name refers to a location along the Elbow River that resembles a human elbow. The Cree, Tsuut’ina, and Stoney Nakoda have also named Calgary, Elbow in their respective languages.
It is a place name, an area identified by a unique marker, and one known to various First Nations.
In the Stoney Nakoda language, our people named that area, Wîchîspa. Translated, Wîchîspa, or Wîcha (man) îspa (elbow) means human elbow.
Nenshi is taking the Truth and Reconciliation Commission seriously and this is commendable. It is important for Canadians to know the truth about this country’s history.
It is a history that includes starvation of First Nations people to acquire land. It is one that includes violence, overt racism, genocide, and various assaults on innocent children to achieve government objectives.
Senator Murray Sinclair, chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, rightly asks, “How come you don’t tell Holocaust survivors to get over it?” To many people, our hurt does not matter. We are just “Indians.” Hopefully, this will change one day.
The raising of the flag is a small, symbolic step toward fostering learned opinions with regard to First Nations issues.
In the spirit of reconciliation, Chief Roy Fox of the Kanai Nation wore a headdress that represents a historic peace covenant between the Sioux (Stoney-Nakoda) and Blackfoot people. I will discuss this in more detail in my next column.
