Utoo Radio and Other News Sources, April 22, 2024 - Banff National Park has incorporated Indigenous languages and phrases into its east gate, welcoming visitors to the traditional territory of the Îyârhe (Stoney) Nakoda First Nation, Bearspaw, Chiniki, and Goodstoney Nations; the Blackfoot Confederacy, Kainai, Siksika, and Piikani Nations; the Métis Nation of Alberta, and Tsuuti’na First Nation. The Indigenous Advisory Circle, formed in 2018, is a hub of knowledge that offers insights and recommendations to park overseers on topics, issues, and opportunities of importance.

The gantry sign, which includes Indigenous verbiage, has been in the works for over a year. Representatives of the advisory circle and Parks Canada staff celebrated the milestone achievement at the Cascade Ponds day use area on April 10. Piikani elder Herman Many Guns emphasized the foundational significance of language within culture and the significance of Chief Sitting Behind an Eagle Tail, a Piikani signatory to Treaty 7 in 1877.

The Îyârhe Nakoda First Nation, Blackfoot Confederacy, and Tsuut’ina First Nation are all signatories to Treaty 7. The meaning of the English word ‘welcome’ is captured differently in the many Indigenous languages represented under the treaty. The Stoney word ‘okâch,’ used by all three Nations, translates roughly to ‘there is open space; for someone to join.’

Superintendents for Banff and Lake Louise, Yoho, and Kootenay national parks Sal Rasheed and François Masse were in attendance to mark the occasion and celebrate the Indigenous Advisory Circle’s achievement, along with Parks Canada CEO Ron Hallman and other parks staff.