Land acknowledgement plaques unveiled in Strathcona County

Strathcona County has installed land acknowledgment plaques along the Heritage Mile, as part of its recognition for National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21.

“I am pleased our community continues to acknowledge the importance and contributions of Indigenous Peoples in Strathcona County,” says Mayor Rod Frank. “Sharing their history and contributions helps keep their culture, heritage and practices alive, and creates a community where everyone feels welcome to live, work and play.”

Strathcona County welcomed the opportunity to support Salisbury United Church’s initiative for this project. The church, located on Heritage Mile, was installing land acknowledgment plaques within their building and identified the need for Indigenous Peoples recognition along the Heritage Mile. Through consultation with Pamela Sparklingeyes, James Seenum Band and Whitefish Lake First Nation, the following wording was developed:

Strathcona County respectfully acknowledges we are located on Treaty 6 Territory. The Heritage Mile celebrates these sacred lands known as Amiskwaciy (Cree for "The Beaver Hills”).

For tens of thousands of years, Indigenous people have lived and thrived in this place including the Blackfoot (Niitsitapi), Gros Ventres (A’aninin), Cree (Nehiywak), Saulteaux (Anishinaabe), Dene, Nakota Sioux and later the Métis.

These lands will continue to host many nations from all directions arriving by land, air and water. All inhabitants are responsible to each other, to the land, to the resources and to Treaty Six "as long as the sun shines, the grass grows and the river flows.”

Strathcona County recognizes the importance of acknowledging the traditional territory of the Indigenous Peoples who called this land home before the arrival of settlers, and in many cases still do call it home. Nearly 4,000 Strathcona County residents identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit or Metis). The Truth and Reconciliation Committee report identifies 10 principles upon which Calls to Action are based, including that “All Canadians, as Treaty peoples, share responsibility for establishing and maintaining mutually respectful relationships.”

The Heritage Mile, which runs along Broadmoor Boulevard from the traffic circle to Baseline Road, is a tribute to Strathcona County’s rural heritage. It commemorates several early pioneer families who farmed along Broadmoor Boulevard decades before the hamlet of Sherwood Park formed in 1955. Sherwood Park’s Heritage Mile Society spearheaded the Heritage Mile project in the mid-1990s to publicly recognize the heritage value of these historic sites.

Set in the centre of Alberta’s energy and agricultural heartland, Strathcona County is a thriving, successful and vibrant community of over 98,000 residents. Strathcona County is made up of the urban area of Sherwood Park and a large adjacent rural area of farms, acreages and smaller hamlets. It is home to 75 per cent of hydrocarbon processing in Western Canada. Strathcona County is a leader in environmental conservation, and 55 per cent of its land is within the UNESCO Beaver Hills Biosphere. With a focus on economic, governance, social, cultural and environmental sustainability, Strathcona County is committed to balancing the unique needs of its diverse community.

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Contact:  Strathcona County Communications, 780-410-6595