Police Point Park in Medicine Hat. Photo: Medicine Hat tourism
A dedicated Indigenous cultural gathering space is being established at Police Point Park in Medicine Hat to support ceremony, teaching, reflection and cultural connection.
The City of Medicine Hat, working in partnership with the Miywasin Friendship Centre, has set aside an approximately 100-square-foot area on the west side of the Nature Centre. A sign will mark the site.
The space acknowledges the longstanding relationship Indigenous Peoples have with Police Point Park and the surrounding landscape, including traditional gathering, harvesting and ties to the South Saskatchewan River.
“Having a dedicated space within Police Point Park creates an opportunity for Indigenous people to see that our cultures, traditions, ceremonies, and ways of knowing have a meaningful place within the broader community,” said Mekethia Fairbanks, cultural connections coordinator with the Miywasin Friendship Centre.“This space represents the Blackfoot teaching of Isspomaanitpiisinii, which means to help one another—to intentionally come together and work toward a common goal.
The space will be officially designated after a ground blessing led by Elder Warren One Gun on Friday, Aug. 28, at 11 a.m.
The ceremony is open to the public. Attendees are asked to bring a chair or blanket and to respect the purpose of the space, along with any cultural protocols, signage or guidance provided.
The designation forms part of the city’s ongoing reconciliation efforts. It recognizes Indigenous Peoples as the original stewards of the land, encompassing Treaty 7 and Treaty 4 territories and the homelands of the Métis Nation within District 2, Battle River Territory.
“It has been a privilege for Parks and Recreation to work collaboratively with our City partners and the Miywasin Friendship Centre on this initiative,” said Orlando Whetter, City of Medicine Hat manager of Parks.“We are proud to support a project that honours culture, promotes understanding, and contributes to meaningful reconciliation efforts within our community.”
After the ground blessing, the space will be available to book for cultural purposes. Applications to utilize the space can be made through the Bookings & Rentals page within the Parks and Recreation section of the City’s website.
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