Indigenous Relations |
We have been incredibly fortunate in our journey to reinvigorate NAPDA and maximize the use of our venue space. In 2023, we began rebuilding our capacities as a non-profit post covid-19. As an organization that had documented the pioneer experience in Edmonton area for nearly 140 years. A natural progression of our historic work, is to digitize, and fill in the gaps of those stories. Those "gaps" include the Indigenous experience. The impact of the projects documented in these incredible stories. This natural evolution of our documentation of the regions history, highlighted the need for Truth and Reconciliation action.
We are incredibly thankful for those who have been instrumental in guiding our understanding of Indigenous culture, the impacts of our past, present, and how we can make meaningful, lasting, and wanted change in our community.
I am also thankful for those who have asked questions, and challenged what we are doing. We are dedicated to being transparent and collaborative in our mission.
Please find some of our policy, practices, and some of the incredible people who have influenced our Truth and Reconciliation action.
NAPDA Policies for Indigenous relations
1. CULTURAL APPROPRIATENESS- NAPDA staff Do NOT host or lead indigenous ceremony, events, or teachings, we partner with known community members who are empowered through in-kind donation and other supports to run programming. We support cultural events that are open to participation and teaches, welcomes, and shares Indigenous culture with people of all walks of life.
Example; Full Moon Ceremony- Held on the full moon each month. This event is organized by a well known treaty 8 member (at the time of writing this I have not asked permission to publish names), who makes arrangements and invites the Elders who lead the ceremony. NAPDA has no input on the ceremony, topics, or procedures that occur.
2. TRUTH - We are committed to expressing, curating, and displaying wholistic and accurate history of our area. Our organization was officially founded in 1894, since then we documented thousands of pioneering family stories, many of which have mention of Indigenous interaction- Both good, and bad. We are committed to exploring those historical archives, digitizing them, and finding Indigenous experience, oral history, and impacts of those interactions to ensure we preserve truthful and accurate historic archives.
3. We must address Truth & Reconciliation as two separate areas of attention.
4. Bison Lodge and NAPDA are advocates of an equitable future for all.
5. FINANCES- We do not access funding designed for Indigenous peoples or grants for indigenous run programming, etc. IF one of the events or programs we are hosting requires funding we can co-sign as a charitable organization, or as a co-applicant with letter of support or confirmation of space availability etc. We can assist in writing or locating potential grants, but we are not the beneficiate beyond the use of our space for the program, if required.
| Bison Lodge has been so fortunate to work with the Papaschase Band 136, in genealogical research and fact finding projects, as well as Hosting them for their 2025 AGM. The stunning beadwork was presented by Chief Darlene Misik and Counsel to Mike Alexander, Executive Director of Bison Lodge, at the AGM in August, 2025. We are so grateful for their support and partnership moving forward together. |
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