Skydancer Indigenous Cultural Centre and Art Gallery opens in Spruce Grove

The official banner for the Skydancer Indigenous Cultural Centre and Art Gallery. Photo by Ryan Hunt.

During the festivities of National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, the Skydancer Indigenous Cultural Centre and Art Gallery in Spruce Grove held its grand opening.

The cultural centre is located in the Rotary Centennial Park on the west end of Spruce Grove, right along Highway 16A. The small building features an art gallery filled with handmade paintings and pottery, as well as a porch for people to gather on. There is also a firepit behind the building that will be utilized during the summer.

The event featured a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by the mayor of Spruce Grove, and other dignitaries from Stoney Plain and Parkland County. Dianne Meili, president of the Skydancer Indigenous Cultural Society, started the cultural centre project and helped cut the ribbon.

Dianne Meili and company cutting the ribbon to mark the opening of the Skydancer Indigenous Cultural Centre and Art Gallery. Photo by Ryan Hunt.

“[It’s] a place where Indigenous and non-Indigenous people can come together and learn to understand each other. It’s basically helping everyone work towards truth and reconciliation,” Meili explained in an interview with Windspeaker Radio Network.

Meili came up with the idea for the space in January 2022 and she went to Spruce Grove City Council with “a dream of a cultural center.” The support from city council was unanimous and the Skydancer Indigenous Cultural Society got some funds to make their dream come true.

“It took about a year, and here we are. From talking about it, to renting this place, and moving in in March [2023],” Meili said.

Dianne Meili holding up a plaque marking the grand opening of the Skydancer Indigenous Cultural Centre and Art Gallery. Photo by Ryan Hunt.

With the art gallery fully open, Meili has her sights fully set on the future, with all sorts of programs planned for the rest of the year.

“In July, we have drum making; in August, we have sweetgrass and sage teachings…and come September when the weather cools down, we’ll have story telling around the fire,” she said.

“It’s a real community hub, and it’s a safe place for everybody,” Meili added.