As I approached the flowing glass façade of The Confluence, Calgary’s newest cultural center, the morning sun caught the intricate beadwork patterns etched into its exterior. These aren’t random artistic choices – they’re deliberate echoes of traditional Blackfoot designs that have adorned clothing, tools, and ceremonial items for generations across the plains of what we now call Alberta.
Inside, Elder Clarence Wolfleg (Miiksika’am) welcomed visitors with a blessing ceremony, smudging sage in an abalone shell as dozens gathered for the opening of “Iitsinniiyissiin: Our Way of Life,” the permanent Blackfoot cultural exhibit that opened last week. The space filled with the sacred scent as he spoke in both Blackfoot and English about the significance of the moment.
“Our stories have always been here, carried in the land and in our people. Now they have a home where others can hear them properly, from our voices,” Wolfleg said, his weathered hands gesturing toward the expansive space housing over 500 artifacts, many returned from museums abroad after decades away from their homeland.
The exhibit represents a profound shift in how Indigenous cultures are presented in public institutions across Canada. Rather than artifacts isolated behind glass with academic descriptions, items are contextualized within living traditions and ongoing cultural practices. Digital storytelling stations feature community members explaining objects’ cultural significance in their own words, while immersive audio captures traditional songs and spoken Blackfoot language.
When I visited the day after opening, families moved through the 15,000-square-foot space, some speaking Blackfoot to their children, pointing out items similar to those used in their own homes. One grandmother showed her granddaughter a cradle board display, explaining how she had carried the child’s mother in a similar carrier.
Dr. Leroy Little Bear, renowned Blackfoot scholar and advisor to the exhibit, explained the approach to me as we walked through a section showcasing seasonal migrations. “For us, knowledge isn’t compartmentalized the way Western museums traditionally present it. Our understanding of plants connects to our ceremonies, which connect to our governance systems and family structures. This exhibit finally honors that interconnectedness.”
The $18.5 million permanent installation at The Confluence represents nearly a decade of consultation between museum professionals and representatives from all four Blackfoot Nations: Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, and Amskapi Piikani in Montana. According to Statistics Canada, approximately 22,000 Blackfoot people live in Alberta today, with cultural ties stretching back thousands of years in the region.
Peter Nychka, executive director of The Confluence, described how the development process inverted traditional museum methodologies. “Instead of curators determining themes and then seeking Indigenous input, we stepped back. Blackfoot knowledge keepers identified what stories needed telling and how they should be presented. Our role became facilitative rather than directive.”
This approach aligns with recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission‘s 2015 final report, which called for cultural institutions to collaborate with Indigenous communities to accurately represent their histories and living cultures. The Royal Alberta Museum and Glenbow Museum have undertaken similar transformations in recent years, but The Confluence project stands out for its scale and the depth of community involvement.
“Museums have traditionally been instruments of colonization,” noted Dr. Cara Krmpotich, director of the Museum Studies program at the University of Toronto, who studies repatriation and Indigenous cultural heritage. “They collected and interpreted Indigenous materials through Western frameworks, often portraying these cultures as existing only in the past. This exhibit represents an important departure from that harmful tradition.”
The exhibit avoids the static treatment often given to Indigenous cultures. Contemporary artworks by Blackfoot creators hang alongside historical pieces, demonstrating cultural continuity. One striking installation by artist Adrian Stimson pairs century-old painted buffalo robes with a new creation depicting climate change impacts on traditional territories.
“Our culture isn’t something locked in the past,” explained Stimson during a tour. “It’s living, adapting, and responding to today’s challenges while maintaining our core values and knowledge systems.”
Beyond artifacts, the exhibit addresses complex historical realities – including the devastating impacts of residential schools, forced relocations, and the deliberate suppression of Blackfoot language and ceremonies. Firsthand testimonies from survivors create powerful moments of reflection, balanced with stories of resilience and cultural revitalization.
For Calgary residents like Melissa Two Bears, who brought her children to the opening, the exhibit represents something long overdue. “I grew up never seeing my culture accurately represented in public spaces. My kids can now point to this building in the heart of downtown and say ‘our story matters here.'”
The exhibit arrives at a moment when interest in Indigenous tourism is growing significantly across Canada. According to Indigenous Tourism Alberta, visitor spending on Indigenous tourism experiences in the province has increased 25% since 2019, reaching $166 million annually. The Confluence anticipates the Blackfoot exhibit will draw substantial numbers from both local and international visitors.
As I left the exhibit, a group of elementary school students were entering, clipboards in hand. Their teacher, Jane Williams from Twelve Mile Coulee School, explained they would be regular visitors throughout the year. “This isn’t a one-time field trip. We’re integrating Blackfoot knowledge into our curriculum, and having this resource allows us to learn directly from the community rather than just reading about it.”
“Iitsinniiyissiin: Our Way of Life” is open daily at The Confluence in downtown Calgary. Admission fees are waived for all Indigenous visitors, and special programming including workshops on traditional crafts, food preparation, and storytelling events are scheduled throughout the summer months.
