The Wandering Spirit, a design presented by Siksika interdisciplinary artist Adrian Stimson and Groundcubed, has been selected for Calgary’s future Indian Residential School Memorial.
That design was selected by an Indigenous jury, including elders, alongside technical experts, and the project itself was Indigenous led from the beginning of the conception of the memorial.
It will be installed at The Confluence Historic Site and Parkland, formerly Fort Calgary.
“We are honoured to unveil a concept that reflects the voices of survivors, Elders, and community members,” said Harold Horsefall, Indigenous Strategist, Indigenous Relations Office at the City of Calgary.
The design was selected by the jury for best meeting competition criteria, including aligning with community and cultural values, and honouring the vision of a memorial site.
“The memorial will bring healing, celebration, and honour to Indigenous communities and those who continue to suffer the impacts and imprints of residential schools,” said Paula Smith, Indigenous Relations Manager at The Confluence Historic Site and Parkland.
“The land at the confluence was used by Fort Calgary to uphold the residential school system, but it has also been a significant place to Indigenous people since long before the North-West Mounted Police arrived here. The chosen memorial design is meant to bring both these histories together towards a unified future.”
Other shortlisted designs included Niitsitapiisini – Our Way of Life, Presented by Two Row Architect and co-designers Brian Porter and Matt Hickey; Nitsiníí’Pokaako’sa – My Special Child, Presented by Spectacle Bureau for Architecture and Jared Tailfeathers; and Footsteps in the Firelight, Presented by Tawaw Architecture Collective Inc. and Wanda Della Costa.
Mayor Jyoti Gondek said that the memorial would serve as a commitment to truth, a place of a remembrance, and as a call to action.
“It will stand as a permanent reminder of the children who never returned home, the survivors who carry deep scars, and the families and communities who continue to live with the intergenerational impacts of the residential school system.”
“I’m grateful to the Elders, survivors, and Indigenous leaders who have shaped this vision from the beginning. Their voices, teachings, and strength have guided this process — and will continue to guide us on the path of reconciliation. Through this memorial, we honour the past while also building a future grounded in respect, understanding, and shared healing.”
The Wandering Spirit is now set to move into a detailed design phase, where it will be refined before construction begins.
