In responds to a Broadview Magazine Article. Re: Monument to a Mission, Broadview Magazine, January 2021.
The final sentence of the article entitled Monument to a Mission states “As for reconciliation, that still seems a long way off.” As a member of the McDougall Stoney Mission Society, and Right Relations Leader within McDougall United Church in Calgary, I feel that I must respond by sharing with you the good works being done by the Society and by many United Churches in the Calgary area over the past years. I need to say first that reconciliation is not a destination, it is a journey – one that must continually be worked on and encouraged to grow throughout our communities.
The history of this area is interesting. According to the Society Archives, in 1925 the United Church of Canada inherited 276 acres of land when the Methodist and Presbyterian Churches amalgamated to form the United Church of Canada. In 1999 this parcel of land was given back to the Stoney Nakoda First Nation except for the 43.9 acres of land where the original Mission Church and the Morleyville Settlement was located. The original foundations of the McDougall homestead are still visible and are an important feature in the Interpretive Walk. The site was designated a Provincial Historic Site and it is owned by the McDougall Stoney Mission Society.
In May of 2017, the McDougall Memorial United Church was almost burned to the ground. The decision was made with the Provincial Government, the MD of Bighorn and in consultation with Stoney Elders, to rebuild an exact replica using 80% of the original logs. The building will be finished in the spring of 2021.
Great plans have been made for future use of this most important historical site in Alberta. The Society is preserving the history of Western Canada, but with a twist. The new interpretation of the site will focus on the history of the location from the perspective of the people of the Stoney Nakoda First Nation. Why? Because they are the peoples that were and still are most impacted by colonization. This will be their story, told in their language, with closed captions in English. Videos along with Indigenous Artwork will be shown inside the church for all to hear and to see.
Outdoor activities have been enjoyed and will continue at the site. Over the past years we have hosted historians, botanists, singers, dancers, artists, archeologists, and we have held tipi raising events, all of which featured participation by members of all three bands within the Stoney Nakoda First Nation. Our final event for 2019, just before construction began, was a Treaty 7 Commemorative Service where a Stoney Nakoda Elder brought a 142-year-old flag that his family received upon the Treaty Signing in 1877. There were approximately 150 attendees, over half of whom were Indigenous.
The service was led by Tony Snow, Indigenous Minister, Chinook Winds Region and Reverend John Snow Jr. Indigenous Minister, Pacific Mountain Regional Council. Both are direct descendants of the Treaty 7 signatory Chief Goodstoney. Reverend, Chief, Dr. John Snow was the first Stoney to be ordained in 1963 within the United Church. His sons continue a legacy of Reconciliation and Decolonization.
The Society promotes wellness through community activities that have included food and clothing drives, job fairs, resume writing etc. In 2019 a Christmas Nativity was organized at the Morley School Gymnasium and the McDougall Stoney Mission Society provided a Christmas Feast for over 350 people and gifts for over 200 children. With new COVID restrictions this year this community celebration could not happen. Instead, the McDougall Stoney Mission Society, along with Ralph Connor in Canmore, St. Andrews in Cochrane, Hillhurst, Scarboro, St. David’s and McDougall United in Calgary donated over $10,000 dollars to provide Elders with gift cards to help them purchase food and gifts for their families.
In addition to the above activities, I can tell you that nothing is done at the site of the McDougall Memorial United Church without the advice and support of Stoney Nakoda Elders. The Board of Directors include a Stoney Elder and that person is on hand to offer guidance. A Sacred Pipe Ceremony was held before work was started at the restoration site, with pipe holders from all three bands of the Stoney Nakoda Nation participating. Spiritual Ceremonies and Prayers are said before every event held at the site in accordance with the wishes of Stoney Nakoda Elders.
Once again, I mention that reconciliation is a journey. It takes time to build trust, and those who have engaged with the Society have taken great strides building these relationships. In the beginning we had to work hard just to convince many Stoney Nakoda Nation members that they were welcome at the site. No Trespassing signs were removed and the language on the gateway sign has been changed from the original Cree to the Stoney language. It reads “Remove not the ancient landmark which thy Fathers have set”.
To complete the circle, the article in the Broadview Magazine stated that reconciliation is a long way off, but I am here to tell you that acts of reconciliation are occurring every day and it is the members of McDougall Stoney Mission Society, our United Churches and the people of the Stoney Nakoda First Nation who are working together to make this a reality. Hopefully, seven generations from now, our descendants will be grateful that we helped preserve our mutual Canadian History and that they see evidence that we moved forward with a greater understanding, while showing respect, generosity, and friendship.
Marilyn Agnew,
Right Relations Leader and Congregational Witness to Reconciliation
McDougall United Church of Calgary, AB
Contact info: Right.Relations@mcdunited.com