Truth and Reconciliation

The City of Fort Saskatchewan is located on Treaty 6 territory and Métis Nation of Alberta District 11. We recognize that we stand upon land that carries the footsteps of many Indigenous Peoples, including the Nehiyawak, Dene, Blackfoot, Saulteaux, Nakota Sioux, and Métis. The City honours the First Peoples of this land and is committed to fostering reconciliation through relationship building, knowledge gathering, and education.

The City of Fort Saskatchewan is committed to Truth and Reconciliation. We recognize the need to support all Indigenous communities, understand the truth of Canada’s colonial history, and celebrate and uplift Indigenous voices, culture, and tradition.

In March 2021, City Council expressed support for Truth and Reconciliation work in Fort Saskatchewan at a municipal level. Council directed Administration to continue researching and consulting with Indigenous stakeholders for the remainder of 2021 and to prepare a plan for consideration with the 2022 budget deliberations.

Current Status

Connecting with Indigenous stakeholders, such as consultants, governing bodies, and local community members.
Identifying individuals interested in working with us to move forward with Truth and Reconciliation
Committing to a respectful and positive way forward for all parties involved.
In response to the thousands of graves found at Residential Schools across the country, the City lowered its flags to half-mast throughout summer 2021.
On September 30, 2021, the first annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the City held a speaker event at City Hall where Indigenous residential school survivors, advocates, and musicians spoke about their experiences and perspectives on reconciliation.
During the week of the 2021 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the City hosted educational sessions for City staff, which focused on understanding Indigenous history and contemporary issues in Canada.
The City of Fort Saskatchewan will honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a statutory holiday. More information about how this day was honoured in 2021.

The City recognizes that this is a journey and a long-term commitment. We are taking a measured and respectful approach as a start. We believe that building relationships with Indigenous communities and individuals is a crucial first step in this process.

Next Steps

As we move forward in consultation with our community, we will determine the next appropriate steps based on the feedback we receive from stakeholders.

Get Involved

If you would like to share insights or ideas or join in the learning, we would love to hear from you. Please contact Jessica Weller, Culture & Heritage Supervisor, at jweller@fortsask.ca.

Information on Residential Schools

Awareness of Indigenous issues and Truth and Reconciliation has been on the rise across Canada, spurred in large part by discoveries of thousands of Indigenous children in mass graves at Residential Schools. Conversations about how to approach Truth and Reconciliation and support Indigenous communities are becoming increasingly common across the country, including in Fort Saskatchewan.

Indigenous communities have known about the realities of Residential Schools for generations, but many Canadians may be unaware of the impact these government-operated schools had on Indigenous Peoples.

We encourage all Fort Saskatchewan residents to take this opportunity to learn about Residential Schools and their continuing impact on Indigenous Peoples. The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) offers a number of excellent resources to help you begin your learning journey.