INDIGENOUS CULTURAL
SUPPORTS AND SERVICES

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Simon House Indigenous Program

Simon House celebrates the contributions made by First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people. Canada is blessed to have so many distinct Indigenous groups that possess their own languages, ceremonies, and beliefs. Collectively, we unite to recognize and celebrate the unique, diverse, and beautiful cultures that surround us.

Simon House stands in solidarity with Indigenous people and all cultural groups, families, and communities, acknowledging its role that in ensuring cultural sensitivity in practice towards the healing journey. We celebrate and acknowledge the beauty of the Indigenous and diverse cultures that are all around us.

Simon House provides cultural and spiritual support to all residents, with a full-time resident Indigenous Coordinator on staff to ensure the traditions and customs are always respected and practiced.

Residents are provided education towards Indigenous culture and history to foster better understanding, eliminate stereotypes, and support unity and friendships.

Residents can participate in:

• Sweats

• Daily smudge and meditation

• Wellbriety

• Sharing Circles

• Truth and Reconciliation

• Traditional medicine gathering teachings

• Indigenous arts & crafts

• Residential school history

• Cultural sensitivity

• Breaking stereotypes

• Treaty misconceptions

• Indigenous history

• One-on-one cultural and spiritual support with Indigenous Coordinators

• Cultural and ceremonial events (Pow Wows, Round Dance)

The Indigenous Policy Framework for The City of Calgary, and the mayor’s proclamation of reconciliation (2014) says, “At the confluence of two rivers, the lifeblood of our city, our cultures converged, and our story began”. We are all Treaty people, and reconciliation as detailed in this report of the Indigenous Policy Framework for The City of Calgary, is a blueprint for that future. The policy which was prepared by The Calgary Aboriginal Urban Affairs Committee on April 11, 2017, was revised several times before being adopted by Calgary City Council. This policy actively supports meaningful long-term efforts to bring Indigenous Blackfoot (Piikani) identities, histories, cultures, languages, traditions, principles, and worldviews, into municipal planning and decision-making . This also includes Simon House Recovery Centres own implementation within its addiction’s recovery programming.

By presenting an Indigenous Blackfoot aspect also provides the residents a chance to learn this shared worldview, history, principles, culture, traditions, language, relationships, and ways of knowing from place. Is tsi pa ta piyopi (Creator or Source of Life) mark the territory of the Niitsitapi (The Blackfoot People) by significant landmarks which are found within the vast territory of the Niitsitapi (The Blackfoot People).

The literal meaning of Moh’ Kinstsis is Elbow and references the area where the Elbow River meets the Bow River and was a gathering place for the Niisitapi (The Blackfoot People) since time immemorial and later shared the area with other Indigenous people and eventually Europeans (settlers). Upon their traditional territory Is tsi pa ta piyopi instructed the Niitsitapi (The Blackfoot People) to co-exist with all parts of creation, including the sacred land, environment, and all other living beings and cultures.

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