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Calgary Herald

New Indigenous cultural centre to open in Banff

In late April, a group of officials from Indigenous Arts at the Banff Centre travelled to Mini Thni to confer with elders. Article content The elders, all from the Stoney Nakoda First Nation community formerly known as Morley, were to decide on a name for the Banff Centre's new building dedicated to Indigenous culture and gatherings. Article content 'We brought, through protocol, cloth tobacco,' says Janine Windolph, director of Indigenous Arts at Banff Centre. 'That way we were asking in a good way to the elders. That was a really important part of it was the spiritual care.' Article content Article content Alice Kaquitts, Charles Rabbit, Watson Kaquitts and Tina Fox, all community elders from Mini Thni, named the building Îethka Mâkochî Ahogi Chi Pa Bi Ti: Îethka Territory House of Respect. Article content Article content 'Part of it was to acknowledge the Stoney connection to space, but also the responsibility to practise hospitality values to other natures that gather here and that role in terms of being grounded together in respect,' says Windolph. 'The elders felt House of Respect was the best one to really understand those relations, nation to nation, and how we can hold each other in a good way.' Article content In May, a pipe ceremony and dinner with the elders was held in honour of them bestowing the name on the new building, which is on the side of Sacred Buffalo Guardian Mountain and housed in one of the Banff Centre's former chalets at the top of Ken Madsen path. Article content On Saturday, it will officially open to the public and mark a new chapter in celebrating Indigenous culture in the Banff Centre. The building will provide space for ceremonies, feasts and potlucks. There is office space for elders and staff, and it will eventually house permanent exhibitions of artwork by Indigenous artists from across Canada. Article content Article content 'There was a need to have more of a casual gathering space but also to acknowledge the Indigenous history and connections,' Windolph says. 'What I find important here is that they are really looking at not only understanding what the Indigenous narrative is on this site, but taking it to the point where they are embodying it and understanding it and helping to share the narrative.' Article content Indigenous studies have long been a part of the programming at the Banff Centre. This season, the centre is offering residencies for emerging and established Indigenous artists in fashion, video and audio production and visual arts. Article content 'A lot of the programs are having knowledge keepers and elders as faculty,' Windolph says. 'So they are not just there to open up and pray, they are there to teach. I lot of the skills they were teaching were porcupine-quill jewelry, caribou tufting, beadwork, of course. In fashion, they were doing different ribbon work, working with hides. The idea is that people might come to the fashion program with a fashion background, but they might not have had the experience of working with elders and learning those traditional adornment techniques. Having that access in many communities is important. Article content 'Having that access in many communities is important. Sometimes, some communities don't have an active practice that may have been part of their history. Even on a larger scale, a lot of artists come in here learning, and they have been permitted to teach these skills in their communities. What we're seeing is a revitalization of culture that starts with that learning and networking. As they go back into their community, they are teaching these skills and bringing them back.' Article content