Sacred Indigenous memorial to be transferred from Calgary city hall Friday

Since 2021, the steps outside Calgary city hall have been home to a makeshift memorial honouring children who never made it home from residential schools. The small pairs of shoes, toys, and stuff animals are a poignant reminder of history to all who pass by. But, come Friday, the memorial will have a new, more permanent home in the city.

Doreen Healy, a residential school survivor, says the creation of a permanent memorial is a step in the right direction.

“I’m part of that whole residential school survivor story…so it is good that this city is recognizing and is putting that memorial, but I have other thoughts,” she told CityNews.

At the cost of $7.5 million ‘The Wandering Spirit’ memorial will have a permanent location at The Confluence, two kilometres from its original spot at city hall.

Despite her appreciation for the memorial, Healy is concerned the money could help Indigenous Calgarians in other ways.

“I see the $7 million dollars be put to better use… It’s good to learn about and hear about the past but what’s more important to me is doing something for our people today, just like the housing that was announced,” she said.

Healy is referring to the city’s Indigenous Housing Program which awarded $33 million to 16 Indigenous nations and Indigenous-led non-profit organizations to deliver to up to 379 new non-market homes for Indigenous Calgarians; taxpayer money that Ward 14 Coun. Landon Johnson questions.

“Going forward, can we reduce taxpayer money towards truth and reconciliation while still forwarding truth and reconciliation?” he said Tuesday.

“The city should respect what the elders want and it’s an Indigenous gathering place at The Confluence where they can gather and they can call our home… It’s where our hearts will be,” Healy added.

The transfer ceremony will begin outside the Municipal Building at 10 a.m. and the walk will start at 10:30 a.m., where community members will carry 215 tobacco ties to The Wandering Spirit at The Confluence.

A temporary memorial will be set up until construction of the permanent memorial starts in 2027.