On Saturday, June 3, 2023, the Town of Okotoks is being honoured with the transfer of a traditional Blackfoot painted lodge (Tipi). This tipi will be transferred to Mayor Thorn, on behalf of the Town of Okotoks, by four Blackfoot Elders. These Elders are from the Siksika, Kainai, Piikani and Southern Piikuni Nations, which make up the Blackfoot Confederacy.
This tipi transfer is a symbol of the Town’s commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. With the transfer, comes a great responsibility to the Town. The tipi will be transferred in ceremony, which is an oral commitment from the Town to care for this tipi and to know its oral protocol. The ceremony and acceptance of this painted lodge is a vow from Town Council and Administration that we as a community will continue to honour our Indigenous partners.
Following traditional oral protocol, only certain individuals from Town Council, Administration and invited guests will be present inside the tipi for the formal transfer ceremony. However, the community is invited and encouraged to attend the tipi transfer from outside of the tipi. Ceremonies are not to be recorded, however the elders will be using a microphone and the audio feed will be broadcast on speakers to the entire audience so that everyone can hear the transfer and witness this powerful act of reconciliation in our community.
Elders from Treaty 7 were instrumental in helping translate the Town's vision statement into the beautiful design that you will see on the outside tipi. The Town adopted a new vision statement in the fall of 2022, which is: A vibrant, resilient, and connected community that fosters wellbeing of land and people; a community to call home.
The painting of the tipi has been underway for months and there are three upcoming dates: March 16, 17 and 18, where community members will have the opportunity to leave their painted hand print on the liners, which are the inside walls of the tipi.
Further details will be shared on the tipi transfer event happing in June as we get closer to the date.
Tipi Liner Painting Events
You're invited to join in on painting the liners of the traditional Blackfoot tipi that the Town of Okotoks will be honoured with on June 3rd! Mayor Thorn believes it is integral that members of the Okotoks community are involved in the painting process of the tipi. From March 16-18 the tipi liners, which are the inner walls of the tipi, will be laid out at the Foothills Centennial Centre, where residents are welcome to come and leave their painted handprint on the liners.