The first residents of Taza Park moved in back in March. Photo by Stephen Strand
On the southwest edge of Calgary, on Tsuut’ina Nation, a large-scale development is being built.
Taza is a Nation-owned, 1,200-acre economic development that is being delivered through a 50/50 partnership between Tsuut’ina Nation and Canderel.
As part of this development, three different communities are being built, Buffalo Run (which is an established commercial hub), Taza Park (which is a 470-acre mixed-use community in the works), and The Crossing (which is a future community planned for a later date).
Canaderel did a case study on Taza Park, which talks about the development and how it will benefit Tsuut’ina Nation.
In the case study, it described how this development represents a shift in how the land development is conceived and executed.
The case study found that Indigenous leadership is foundational, shaping governance, direction, and long-term priorities.
“What is emerging across Taza is not simply a collection of buildings and infrastructure, but a working example of how partnership-driven development can generate economic opportunity while reinforcing cultural identity, land stewardship, and intergenerational responsibility,” the case study read.
As part of Taza Park, culture does not function as an aesthetic overlay, but as a governing framework and a lived outcome.
“Tsuut’ina values reciprocity, stewardship, shared prosperity, and the preservation of language. These values shape how priorities are set, how trade-offs are evaluated, and how commitments are upheld long before they are expressed in built form,” the case study reads.
In the case study, Randy Dodginghorse, Director of Tsuut’ina Relations, adds “our values are tied back to the land, and with that comes an obligation; to communicate properly, to respect protocol, and to make sure people understand what’s happening on their land.”
The case study adds that in the context of these communities, cultural awareness is not simply symbolic, but informs behaviour, shapes how teams engage with leadership, how discussions unfold, and how decisions are documented and carried forward.
Dodginghorse explains a bit about how the development came about.
He goes on to explains more about the economic benefits of this community.
The homes being built in these communities are for sale, but residents sign a 99-year lease for the land, which the Nation continues to own.
When the plan for this community was being created, the community and the Nation leadership were able to provide input.
Throughout these communities, cultural elements have been included.
As the case study points out, building with culture at the centre, means it shows up in tangible and intangible ways.
Dodginghorse adds that they are now working on opportunities for the Nation, such as job creation, business opportunities, and more.
The first residents of Taza Park moved in back in March.
To read the full case study, click here.
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