The Confluence's first permanent exhibit in over 2 decades celebrates Blackfoot way of life
CBC
Blackfoot culture is in the spotlight at The Confluence.
Kípaitápiiyssinnooni, which translates to Our Way of Life in the Blackfoot language, was unveiled to the Calgary community on Saturday as the first major permanent exhibit to open at the historic site since 2001.
The 900-square-foot exhibit is a physical expression of the collective knowledge and ongoing presence of the Blackfoot people, said curator Star Crop Eared Wolf.
"It's a place to learn, to reflect, and to experience the richness of Blackfoot history and culture," she said.
"For too long, Blackfoot people and other Indigenous people have been portrayed as a disappearing and a vanishing grace. But we are not gone, we are here."
Kípaitápiiyssinnooni draws inspiration from the traditional layout of a Blackfoot lodge as well as Crop Eared Wolf's childhood experiences. It's made up of materials made by Indigenous creators and shares knowledge gathered from interviews with Blackfoot elders and knowledge keepers.
Throughout the exhibit, the Blackfoot language makes up the first part of every write-up, with English translations coming second.
Crop Eared Wolf, a Niitsitapi artist and member of the Kainai Nation, is the first full-time curator hired at The Confluence in more than two decades, where she's worked on putting the new exhibit together for well over a year.
"It's an honour and a sense of pride just to be able to be a part of this and represent our people," she said.
WATCH | First permanent exhibit to open at The Confluence in 20 years focuses on Blackfoot culture:
The Confluence Historic Site and Parkland, formerly called Fort Calgary before being renamed in 2024, is ushering in a new era, starting with the opening of Kípaitápiiyssinnooni.
"We've heard that people are excited and looking for a connection to Calgary's identity and Calgary's story, and what I like to think is that this is the first step in that direction," said Jennifer Thompson, president of The Confluence.
The exhibit marks the completion of the first phase of The Confluence's ongoing exhibit overhaul, a process that has been underway since November 2024.
Phase one saw eight exhibits dating back to approximately three decades ago removed and put into storage to make way for Kípaitápiiyssinnooni.
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