Kihciy Askiy Development

Project Timeline

2019:   City Council directs administration to work with community partners to establish a governance body responsible for finalizing and implementing a governance and operations model for Kihciy Askiy in January.

• Development of an operations plan and partner and community engagement for Kihciy Askiy continues

2018:  City Council approved the Environmental Impact Assessment and Site Location Study in January.

• Edmonton Design Committee gave formal approval to proceed with the Development Permit Application in April
• The Development Permit was approved in June
• Design development by Manasc Isaac Architects Ltd. is complete
• Contract Tender Document work continues
• Native Counselling Services of Alberta held a Grand Council gathering in October 2018. Indigenous Elders met to discuss Kihciy Askiy operations

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 Adjustment (SCBA).
• City Council approved an additional $1.26 million to construct all of Phase 1, for four season use, through the Fall 2017 Supplemental Capital Budget Adjustment (SCBA).

May 2015:  Native Counselling Services of Alberta hosted a Grand Council Gathering for Indigenous Spiritual Leaders living in the capital region.

• Manasc Isaac 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 regrading 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 stone heating device with water source and regrading/seeding of the grassed ceremonial area.

Indigenous Consultation

On May 6 and 7, 2015, and again on October 28 and 29, 2018, Native Counselling Services of Alberta hosted Grand Council Gatherings for Indigenous Spiritual Leaders in the Capital Region, at the Alfred H. Savage Centre.

Outcomes of the gatherings 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 Desrochers
• Fred Campio
• Wil Campbell
• Ron Arcand