Kihciy Askiy Development

Project Timeline

Spring 2019 :  Park opens

2018 - 2019 : Construction

2015 - 2017 : Indigenous consultation, design and environmental review
City Council approved an additional $500,000 to upgrade the access road into Whitemud Park, through the Spring 2016 Supplemental Capital Budget

May 2015 :  Native Counselling Services of Alberta hosted a Grand Council Gathering for Indigenous Spiritual Leaders living in the capital region.
Manasc Issac Architects Ltd hired as prime consultant for the design phase

Feb 2015 : Hazardous material abatement, demolition of the old farm buildings, corrals, and house, and re-grading of the site

Dec 2014 : City Council approves $2 million in the 2015-2018 capital budget deliberations for design and construction of Kihciy Askiy Phase 1

2009 : The Whitemud Integrated Area Concept Plan is amended to include the development of the cultural site called Kihciy Askiy (Sacred Earth)

2006 : The City receives a proposal from the Edmonton Indigenous Cultural Resource Counsel to create a permanent site for Indigenous cultural events and learning experiences for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people

2003 : The Whitemud Integrated Area Concept Plan is developed and approved by City Council

1968 : Fox Farms is acquired by the City of Edmonton

Project Overview

Kihciy Askiy Phase 1 will consist of four sweat lodges, space for tipis for ceremonies and small group workshops, a large tent gathering area for ceremonial feasts and cultural teachings, men's and women's change rooms/washrooms, storage space, 50 gravel parking stalls, 2 gravel bus parking stalls, a 6 metre wide gravel road with turnaround for emergency response vehicles, a permanent ceremonial fire pit with water source and re grading/seeding of the grassed ceremonial area.

Indigenous Consultation
On May 6 & 7, 2015, Native Counselling Services of Alberta hosted a Grand Council Gathering for Indigenous Spiritual Leaders in the Capital Region, at the Alfred H. Savage Centre.

Outcomes of the gathering included:

• Review and approval of the Kihciy Askiy concept design
• An understanding of the protocols to be used for ceremony at Kihciy Askiy
• An understanding of the ceremonial and spiritual needs of the Capital Region's Indigenous community

In 2016, NCSA created the Elders Council to work with the Project Team during the design and construction of Kihciy Askiy:

• Howard Mustus (Chair)
• Annabelle Kootenay
• Joe Ground
• Wilson Bearhead
• Doris Daychief
• Beatrice Morin
• Emil Desorchers
• Fred Campio
• Wil Campbell