Honouring the ancestral home and cultural heritage of Treaty Seven while amplifying Indigenous voices is the focus for this year’s Historic Calgary Week (HCW).

The week, presented by the Chinook Country Historical Society and Historical Society of Alberta, began on July 26 with opening ceremonies at the Central Library.

“We are dedicated to promoting a greater understanding of Canadian Alberta history in Calgary and region,” said Walt Deboni, member and past president of the Chinook Country Historical Society.

The Calgary Public Library (CPL), is co-hosting the festival.

Heather Robinson, Director for Service Design and Innovation for CPL, expressed the gravity of celebrating Indigenous history through the week.

“We honour the original caretakers of the land who remind us of the ongoing histories that precede us. We recognize our shared responsibilities going forward to help bring everyone together on this journey of truth and reconciliation,” says Robinson.  

Elder Anthony Starlight shined a light on the importance of programs that convey oral rather than written history.

“I found that most of the history that I was looking for was oral history. You see a lot of the history that surrounds us is in the ground, it’s in the air and everything that surrounds us,” said Elder Starlight.

“It reminds us of who we are and where we come from.”

Councillor Terry Wong said that being a part of community building is essential right now, especially in light of the Jasper wildfire crisis that has dispersed the people who live the mountain town.

“We’ve noticed with a heavy heart; catastrophes have fallen on people in Jasper and the wildfires have affected areas that remind us of the fragility of our environment and the strength of our communities at times of crisis.” 

The festival was set to host nearly 90 events including walks, tours, and presentations until August 5. Registration was required for some of the events.

A full list of the events could be found at HCW Week-At-A-Glance.

“The library is deeply committed to providing a diverse breadth and depth of collections, programs and experiences for all ages, so that everyone can feel welcome and everyone has an opportunity to realize their own potential and the potential of our communities,” said Robinson.

Robinson said that for individuals who weren’t able to sign up to events because of timing or because of limits to group sizes, the library would always have a collection of local history available on the fourth floor of the Central Library.

“Whether you’re interested in learning more about the history of the land and the signing of Treaty Seven, Calgary’s boom and bust past, exploring the history of your own home, or learning who Deerfoot trail was named after, or even what Calgary looked like at the turn of the century you will find the answers in the resources of Calgary’s story.”