Our Gifts, tipi on campus (ii’ taa’poh’to’p Indigenous UCalgary)

Our gifts

We are grateful to work with Traditional Knowledge Keepers from different nations across Southern Alberta, who have gifted the institution with key cultural items. 

These gifts will allow us to incorporate Indigenous Ways of Knowing and doing into teaching, learning and events on campus.

The Name

ii’ taa’poh’to’p, the Blackfoot name of the Indigenous Strategy, was bestowed and transferred in ceremony by Kainai Elder Andy Black Water on June 21, 2017. 

The name signifies a place to rejuvenate and re-energize during a journey. 

Traditionally, these places are recognized as safe, caring, restful — and offer renewed energy for an impending journey. In a traditional naming ceremony, transitioning into the new name is a journey of transformation towards self-actualization.

Cultural symbols

The cultural symbols, which are an essential part of our parallel journey, were gifted to us in 2017 by Piikani Elder Reg Crowshoe, Hon. LLD'01. 

The symbols are reflective of Indigenous pictographs and petroglyphs from sacred archeological sites in the prairie provinces, and are understood from within a specific Indigenous cultural context that is distinct from contemporary or post-colonial interpretations.

Explore the symbols
UCalgary cultural model and symbols (ii’ taa’poh’to’p Indigenous UCalgary)

Teepees

To further its goal of Indigenization on campus, UCalgary owns two teepees for pedagogy and ceremony.

The teepee designs were gifted by Piikuni Elder Reg Crowshoe, Hon. LLD'01, and were painted on to the teepees by students, faculty, staff, volunteers and community members at Campfire Chats, National Indigenous Peoples Day, June 21, 2018.

If you are interested in using a teepee for teaching, learning or ceremony, please email VPIE@ucalgary.ca.

UCalgary Honour Song

In 2018, Bearspaw Elder Rod Hunter gifted UCalgary with a song called UCalgary Honour Song, which was recorded with his drum group, Eya-Hey Nakoda. The UCalgary Honour Song is performed or played at all major institutional events and at convocation. 

Upon request, the Indigenous Engagement team is able to organize workshops with Rod Hunter, or another one of the Traditional Knowledge Keepers or affiliates, to teach the Honour Song to members of the campus community.

If you are interested in learning more about the UCalgary Honour Song, please email VPIE@ucalgary.ca.