ARPA and Partners

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Walking with Indigenous Communities

Walking with Indigenous Communities

ARPA and Partner Webinar Recordings

Below you will find videos and podcasts on various topics from both the Alberta Recreation & Park’s Association (ARPA) and our partners.

Discovering One’s Own Reconciliation Journey
ARPA’s staff member, Spencer Acheson shares a presentation about how he began his journey of reconciliation since beginning his role in the Recreation and Parks sector. With the help of ARPA’s Indigenous Oral Knowledge Hub, Spencer shares insights on what he has learned from the Indigenous Elders, partners, and communities we are privileged to work with and about the importance of practicing and promoting allyship in personal and professional settings. 
Traditional Ways of Making Relations Panel
Panelists share their key successes/stories in building relationships with individuals, communities, and organizations, to promote wellness and community connections. The focus is on gathering insights on relationship building from a range of perspectives (Indigenous champions, Western Orgs, etc.), and providing advice on how to start, best practices and key successes in relationship building with Indigenous communities. This session was sponsored by our friends at Alberta Blue Cross. 
Legacy and the Land: An Indigenous perspective
This panel of international Indigenous Elders and community leaders share their thoughts on the connection between parks, the land, and the role it has in reconciliation. The speakers address the legacy aspects of land-based teachings and practices as well as how this translates into urban spaces. Speakers: Adrian Goulet (Canada), Dr. Ihirangi Heke (New Zealand), and Elder Allan Sumner (Australia). This session was part of the 2021 World Urban Parks Congress
Trellis’ Orange Shirt Day: Expanding Our Relations – Oral concepts of understanding
Hosted on the first ever National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in 2021, this panel discusses the roles of traditional care and kinship for all spaces we are in. The panel of guests speak from each of their perspectives: an Elder, a Non-Indigenous ally, a frontline human services worker, and a parent. Listen to this honest and open conversation on how embedding cultural and traditional practices supports all of the activities that we do.
Powwow Dancing With Spike Eaglespeaker Jr.- A Blackfoot Perspective
Spike Eaglespeaker Jr. shares the stories of pow wow dancing accompanied by two young dancers (and SN7 members) from Siksika Nation. Spike will also give some insight into the Blackfoot story of Okotoks. This video is created in collaboration between the Town of Okotoks, ARPA, and SN7.
Spike Eaglespeaker Jr. is an accomplished singer, drummer, and dancer. From the Siksika Nation, he has received many Internationally recognized awards and is currently a member of the singer and dancing group, the Blackfoot Confederacy. Spike is a dedicated community champion who uses culture, recreation, and sport to improve the wellness of his Nation.
Culture Camp 2019
A 5-minute overview of ARPA’s Elder and Youth Capacity Building Culture Camp planned in collaboration with multi-nation Indigenous Elders based in Treaty 7, the Boys and Girls Club of Calgary’s Indigenous Initiatives, and Miskanawah.
Creating a Safe Space for Queer and BIPOC Youth
Join Gabriel Taylor or Piitaaki (Eagle Women), Programmer with the Iiyika’kimaat Youth Program, Trellis for this session aimed at supporting the understanding of what a safe space looks like for queer and BIPOC youth. Participants learn about key definitions such as what intersectionality, BIPOC, and Two Spirited means. The session breaks down how these things impact the way young people enter our spaces, introduces strategies on how to create safe space, and allows for conversation on how we can all work together to champion this important cause.
A Personal Look at Indigenous Traditional Food Systems
Join us virtually for “A Personal Look at Indigenous Traditional Food Systems” featuring guest speaker Kacey Yellowbird. Kacey, the Recreation Director for the Samson Cree Nation, shares why returning to a Traditional Food System is important and how his community is embracing this return through their hunting practices. Kacey is joined by researchers Robbie Potts and Hannah Cunningham, from the University of Alberta, who will showcase related research as well as the importance of sharing this research in a decolonized context. Content Warning: This video contains scenes of animal harvesting that some may consider graphic.

The Alberta Recreation & Parks Association would like to acknowledge the First Nations, the Métis, and all of the people across Alberta who share a history and a deep connection with this land. We dedicate ourselves to moving forward in partnership with Indigenous communities in the spirit of reconciliation and collaboration.