The city is turning to the community for input on the future management of a historic site in the river valley.
According to the City of Lethbridge, the survey is part of the plan to manage the site of the Battle of Belly River, which is historically known as the place where the last major battle between the First Nations in the river valley in 1870.
The project was sparked throughout 2021 and 2022, as city officials worked with Consultation Offices from the Blood Tribe, Piikani Nation, and the Siksika Nation, along with the Métis Nation of Alberta Lethbridge and Area to update the city’s Heritage Management Plan.
According to the cities project page, this process helped “identify recommendations with respect to the continued access and use of designated sites by Indigenous peoples for traditional and cultural activities, and develop and identify recommended protocols for municipal designation (or other methods of recognition and protection) of Indigenous heritage (including cultural landscapes) found in Lethbridge.”
The Battle of Belly River-specific project kicked off in October of last year and will wrap up in March of this year.
According to the project description, it will “allow the City and the Nations to gain experience working together to manage an Indigenous heritage site within city boundaries. It will also establish a foundation for future heritage management work within the city. It will be used to help formulate more general guiding principles and protocols for Indigenous heritage management in Lethbridge.”
Those who want to share their opinions through the survey have until January 20th.
