Tipi Project
TIPI RAISING AT SOUTHCENTRE MALL MARKS LAUNCH OF NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH
In the lead up to National Day for Truth Reconciliation, Southcentre Mall is partnering with GlobalFest, Calgary Arts Development, and Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park to present a powerful and educational installation: Spirit of Reconciliation for Calgarians to experience.
Beginning September 15, a full-size Tipi will be raised in Centre Court, where it will remain until September 30 as the gathering place for a variety of cultural activations.
Live performances, traditional crafts, and hands-on activities where families and guests of all ages can engage with Indigenous artists and knowledge keepers will take place on Sundays leading up to September 30. The commemoration will culminate with a special performance
in Centre Court on September 30 in honor of National Day for Truth Reconciliation.
Chapter One
Beginnings
Our journey of exploration into the Indigenous communities around Calgary began very shortly after GlobalFest started, it was through special presentations as part of our Human Rights Forum. That journey expanded in 2009 with Black Powder Aboriginal Group which represented a collective of Indigenous and Metis groups. In 2011, our partnership shifted over the Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park and for the first time, included the inclusion of the Blackfoot tipi (lodge) on site at Elliston Park. Our goal, over the years, to honour the Indigenous peoples who were here first, and who, over the years, have opened the doors of their land to peoples from all over the world.
Chapter Two
A Gift with Responsibilities
Fast forward to August 2024. GlobalFest received a very special thank you card with the following script inside:
“Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park dedicates a tipi of your own to symbolize the Spirit of Reconciliation” and commemorate the anniversary of our partnership. We extend our best wishes – many good years to come as we work together.”
This became a significant opportunity and responsibility.
Welcome to our “Spirit of Reconciliation” journey.
Chapter Three
During the meeting with Clement we explored ways of incorporating some of GlobalFest into the Lodge canvass. We landed on incorporating our logo colours into the design with a blue black sky and a contrasting lighter blue band, which is the same colour as our new Wordmark. The bottom band of the lodge represents the rolling foothills of the Rockies with the white circles
representing falling stars.
This was followed very shortly be another trip out to Blackfoot Crossing to work through the construction plan in early May.
Meetings and Planning
Over the next year, elders and community leaders from Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park and members of the Siksika Nation took our hands and led us through the process of bringing this special gift to life. The Tipi, or Lodge as we are learning to call it, is more than just an object, a structure, and in its original form, a shelter. It is a commitment to moving forward, in partnership, hand in hand, to help expand understanding, appreciation and building community.
This past April, a number of us took a trip out to Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park to meet with elder Clement Leather, whose vision it was for the design of the lodge. A number of our team travelled to the centre to learn more, and to understand the steps needed to bring this project to
life.
Chapter Four
Under Construction
May 10 was drawing the design out on the lodge canvas and then beginning the painting process. It is not an easy task taking a paper drawing and then translating that to a 20’ canvas, which when spread out, took up a massive amount of space in our warehouse area. Over a period of two days, we engineered and drew out the design and then had a group of volunteers, board member families and staff complete the task of painting the entire exterior.
Chapter Five
The Gift Realized and A New Journey Just Starting
The Lodge (tipi) was then bundled up for waiting for its maiden unveiling at a planned transfer ceremony. A ceremony had been planned for late June in conjunction if Indigenous Heritage Month and the date of the signing of Treaty 7. However, inclement weather which was for most of June and July cancelled the opportunity of conducting the Transfer Ceremony until August, when the lodge was set up for the very first time at Elliston Park, opening night, Thursday, August 14, 2025. The lodge assembly ceremony was led by Grant Many Heads, who explained the process of setting a lodge (tipi) up. The importance of the 4 pole start, the doorway opening
to the East, etc.
Later that week we held a Transfer Ceremony at Elliston Park attended by elders from Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park, Siksika Nation and various community members from Calgary as well as GlobalFest board, staff and volunteers. At that ceremony the lodge ownership was transferred to Alexandra Velosa (GlobalFest Board Member, a relatively new Canadian, having immigrated to Canada from Columbia with her husband Carlos and their firstborn son. Since then their family has expanded with their 2 daughters having been born in Canada) and Ken Goosen, COO of GlobalFest and one of the original founding group of individuals how helped bring GlobalFest from an idea to reality. The day, true to form, to how the summer of Calgary took shape, showered blessing of rain over the proceedings that afternoon.