Significance and history of this site
In 1991, Saamis Tepee, received blessing of the Blood tribe. 600 Indigenous people signed a letter supporting the Saamis Tepee project. Within the circle of the Tepee, ten illustrated storyboards are visible(External link). These boards were all hand-painted and represent a variety of influences and history of First Nations heritage.
The tepee overlooks the
Saamis Archaeological Site, a Provincial Historic Site(External link), located in the valley of Seven Persons Creek in Medicine Hat. Encompassing an area of 36 hectares, this site has been interpreted as a winter and early spring campsite between 1390 and 1820 A.D. For thousands of years, First Nation groups traveled to the vicinity of Medicine Hat during their seasonal round of activities to take advantage of the rich resources. This included large suitable camps for processing bison meat and were rich with water, shelter and a diversity of smaller animals and plants.
Originally constructed for the 1988 Winter Olympics, the tepee was moved to Medicine Hat in 1991.
Photos used with permission from the Esplanade Archives: 1075.0063 and 1075.0071
About this project
Photo by Liberty Emkeit
The Saamis Tepee is a local landmark and gathering place. The site is currently used for dances, storytelling, ceremony, medicine picking, and tourism.
Local Indigenous groups who use the Tepee for traditional ceremonies and dancing events have reported that the current dancefloor surface is rutted, extremely abrasive, and hard on traditional dress and footwear. 
Who is involved
This is project is a partnership between The Miywasin Friendship Centre and the City of Medicine Hat.
The Miywasin Friendship Centre(External link) is a non-profit Aboriginal organization that targets the needs of the Aboriginal community in the Medicine Hat area and develops and maintains services to meet those needs. Miywasin offers a variety of programs to the community at large, including Elder’s and Youth programming, Aboriginal Parenting and Education programs, Cultural events, Housing and Counseling supports. Indigenous cultural activities and ceremony are woven into all of Miywasin Friendship Centre's programs.
This project invites Indigenous Elders, cultural leaders, and Indigenous dancers to be involved. Representatives from organizations connected to the Saamis Tepee site are also invited and welcome.
Project goals
This partnership project has goals of:
🤝Building relationships and trust with Indigenous community who use this space
👍Creating a resurfacing plan that is accepted by the Indigenous community who use this space and is culturally appropriate
🌅Timing of resurfacing is coordinated with Indigenous programming
💡Understanding what else can be done in the future with this space to make it more usable for the Indigenous community. Some ideas already brought up:
⛱Seating and shade to help facilitate current activities on site
👀Walking path out to Saamis Archeological site and potential look out
👉Signage to other Indigenous sites (e.g., 100kms to...)
🚗Adequate parking for activities occurring
🤾♂️Natural playground (or other infrastructure for families to do when there)
🚾Washroom access
What is being resurfaced
We will be working with Elders, cultural leaders, and dancers in the Indigenous community to determine what is the preferred replacement material.
This project will look to replace the current surface with an appropriate material which is better suited for how the space is used.
A few options may include:
1) Poured rubber
2) Engineered wood fibre
3) Astroturf
4) Decorative concrete
These are just some examples that have been brought up as potential surfaces.
How to be involved
We aim to complete the project in collaboration with local indigenous leaders and groups to ensure any culturally sensitive areas and/or practices are respected. Miywasin Friendship Centre and City of Medicine Hat will host multiple Elder-led gatherings to bring together the Indigenous community at Ómahksípiitaa (Big Eagle) to discuss the project goals.
Before the engagement - Come feel the Methanex Bowl ground surface
Meet us a Big Marble Go Centre's Methanex Bowl on Monday, April 7 or Wednesday, April 9 between 5 and 6 p.m. to walk on the surface and see what it might be like as a dancefloor surface.
Important: Anyone interested in walking on the Methanex Bowl surface must bring training shoes or moccasins.
Friday, April 11 - First Gathering
Elders circle with smudge, prayer, land acknowledgment, history of the site, and introduction to the project.
Please RSVP online here, or by emailing participate@medicinehat.ca(External link) or by calling 403-529-8258.
10:30 a.m. - Refreshments: coffee/tea
11:00 a.m. - Elder opening prayer and history of the site
12:00 p.m. - Catered lunch
1:00 - 3:00 p.m. - Project introduction and conversation
Late June - Second Gathering
Elders circle with smudge, prayer, land acknowledgment, work with design team who will come to collaborate on a design.
Future Gatherings will be determined depending on what is said by the group. If the there is alignment within the community for an accepted material for the flooring surface, construction may begin spring 2026.
Significance and history of this site
In 1991, Saamis Tepee, received blessing of the Blood tribe. 600 Indigenous people signed a letter supporting the Saamis Tepee project. Within the circle of the Tepee, ten illustrated storyboards are visible(External link). These boards were all hand-painted and represent a variety of influences and history of First Nations heritage.
The tepee overlooks the
Saamis Archaeological Site, a Provincial Historic Site(External link), located in the valley of Seven Persons Creek in Medicine Hat. Encompassing an area of 36 hectares, this site has been interpreted as a winter and early spring campsite between 1390 and 1820 A.D. For thousands of years, First Nation groups traveled to the vicinity of Medicine Hat during their seasonal round of activities to take advantage of the rich resources. This included large suitable camps for processing bison meat and were rich with water, shelter and a diversity of smaller animals and plants.
Originally constructed for the 1988 Winter Olympics, the tepee was moved to Medicine Hat in 1991.
Photos used with permission from the Esplanade Archives: 1075.0063 and 1075.0071
About this project
Photo by Liberty Emkeit
The Saamis Tepee is a local landmark and gathering place. The site is currently used for dances, storytelling, ceremony, medicine picking, and tourism.
Local Indigenous groups who use the Tepee for traditional ceremonies and dancing events have reported that the current dancefloor surface is rutted, extremely abrasive, and hard on traditional dress and footwear.
Who is involved
This is project is a partnership between The Miywasin Friendship Centre and the City of Medicine Hat.
The Miywasin Friendship Centre(External link) is a non-profit Aboriginal organization that targets the needs of the Aboriginal community in the Medicine Hat area and develops and maintains services to meet those needs. Miywasin offers a variety of programs to the community at large, including Elder’s and Youth programming, Aboriginal Parenting and Education programs, Cultural events, Housing and Counseling supports. Indigenous cultural activities and ceremony are woven into all of Miywasin Friendship Centre's programs.
This project invites Indigenous Elders, cultural leaders, and Indigenous dancers to be involved. Representatives from organizations connected to the Saamis Tepee site are also invited and welcome.
Project goals
This partnership project has goals of:
🤝Building relationships and trust with Indigenous community who use this space
👍Creating a resurfacing plan that is accepted by the Indigenous community who use this space and is culturally appropriate
🌅Timing of resurfacing is coordinated with Indigenous programming
💡Understanding what else can be done in the future with this space to make it more usable for the Indigenous community. Some ideas already brought up:
⛱Seating and shade to help facilitate current activities on site
👀Walking path out to Saamis Archeological site and potential look out
👉Signage to other Indigenous sites (e.g., 100kms to...)
🚗Adequate parking for activities occurring
🤾♂️Natural playground (or other infrastructure for families to do when there)
🚾Washroom access
What is being resurfaced
We will be working with Elders, cultural leaders, and dancers in the Indigenous community to determine what is the preferred replacement material.
This project will look to replace the current surface with an appropriate material which is better suited for how the space is used.
A few options may include:
1) Poured rubber
2) Engineered wood fibre
3) Astroturf
4) Decorative concrete
These are just some examples that have been brought up as potential surfaces.
How to be involved
We aim to complete the project in collaboration with local indigenous leaders and groups to ensure any culturally sensitive areas and/or practices are respected. Miywasin Friendship Centre and City of Medicine Hat will host multiple Elder-led gatherings to bring together the Indigenous community at Ómahksípiitaa (Big Eagle) to discuss the project goals.
Before the engagement - Come feel the Methanex Bowl ground surface
Meet us a Big Marble Go Centre's Methanex Bowl on Monday, April 7 or Wednesday, April 9 between 5 and 6 p.m. to walk on the surface and see what it might be like as a dancefloor surface.
Important: Anyone interested in walking on the Methanex Bowl surface must bring training shoes or moccasins.
Friday, April 11 - First Gathering
Elders circle with smudge, prayer, land acknowledgment, history of the site, and introduction to the project.
Please RSVP online here, or by emailing participate@medicinehat.ca(External link) or by calling 403-529-8258.
10:30 a.m. - Refreshments: coffee/tea
11:00 a.m. - Elder opening prayer and history of the site
12:00 p.m. - Catered lunch
1:00 - 3:00 p.m. - Project introduction and conversation
Late June - Second Gathering
Elders circle with smudge, prayer, land acknowledgment, work with design team who will come to collaborate on a design.
Future Gatherings will be determined depending on what is said by the group. If the there is alignment within the community for an accepted material for the flooring surface, construction may begin spring 2026.
