City of Calgary and Blackfoot Confederacy reach protocol agreement

The City of Calgary has reached what could be its first protocol agreement with an Indigenous organization.

The Blackfoot Confederacy made a request to the office of Mayor Jyoti Gondek in 2023, seeking a memorandum of understanding or protocol agreement.

Once city council approved going ahead with discussions, the two parties started talking.

Such agreements outline how the two sides will engage with each other and work toward establishing a collaborative relationship.

The government of Alberta has reached three such agreements with Indigenous groups.

The City of Calgary says protocol agreements are legally non-binding.

Each agreement can vary, depending on the aspirations of the parties, areas of joint interest and the conditions for meetings.

The CEO of the Blackfoot Confederacy, Carol Mason, attended Thursday's meeting of city council's intergovernmental affairs committee.

She said the organization is excited about reaching an agreement and moving ahead working with the city.

"We've always had relationships with the City of Calgary, but to further that and continue the growth of that is really important and vital for partnerships," said Mason.

The Blackfoot Confederacy represents the Siksika, Pikani and Blood First Nations who are Treaty 7 signatories as well as the Blackfeet Nation in Montana.

Mayor Gondek was on hand for the discussion. She said reaching the agreement is a historic step.

"It has taken us a number of years to build the relationships and particularly the trust, that we are serious about reconciliation to get to this point," said the mayor.

Gondek added that she's looking forward to reaching similar agreements with other Indigenous groups.

The city has also received requests to negotiate protocol agreements from the Tsuut'ina Nation and the Bearspaw Nation.

The intergovernmental affairs committee approved the memorandum of understanding on Thursday.

It will go to city council at an upcoming meeting in April for discussion.

If it approves the agreement, the city says a pipe ceremony and a signing of the deal will be scheduled for later this year with Blackfoot chiefs and elders.