The kingfisher's got a new nest to call home.
On September 8, the Okotoks community gathered for the Kingfisher Lodge Naming Ceremony, a celebration of connection, community, and culture. The ceremony was led by Mike Bruised Head, who opened with prayers and was followed by words from Mayor Tanya Thorn and Foothills School Division Board of Trustees Chair Theresa Letendre.
The ceremony featured a pipe ceremony and a painting ceremony, where Monica Crane, principal at Cameron Crossing School, was chosen to receive the paint and represent the name Kingfisher Lodge. Crane was given the Blackfoot name Siikamm, meaning crane, as part of the ceremony.
Kingfisher Lodge is a shared gathering place designed for learning, connection, and community events, and is a partnership between the Town of Okotoks and Foothills School Division. The name was chosen to reflect the connection to the land, the Blackfoot territory, and the community being built.
“It’s an amazing opportunity for us to come together and celebrate education for all peoples of Alberta,” said Crane. “Today was extra special because I was given my own Blackfoot name to carry as part of the painting ceremony.”
Following the ceremony, attendees shared berry soup and Bannock. The event was seen as more than just naming a building, but as a celebration of the relationships and trust that have made the moment possible.
“It is about the journey that has brought this place together, and the trust, learning, and generosity that have made this moment possible,” said Letendre. “Relationships grounded in respect, in listening, in curiosity, in humility, and in a willingness to learn from perspectives beyond our own.”
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