Can Dinner Unite Indigenous & Non-Indigenous Cultures? Aisinna'kiiks Proves It

In 2024, Calgary Arts Development hosted something powerful-a dinner series that wasn’t just about food, but about connection. At high schools across Calgary, artists, students, educators, and First Nations members, including Elders, came together to share stories, culture, and wisdom.
Inspired by the Blackfoot word Aisinna'kiiks, meaning “those who write, draw, or make their mark", these weren't your average gatherings.
“This particular dinner series is all about building good relations, and it is fantastic,” says Patti Pon, President and CEO of Calgary Arts Development.
“There is nothing like being in space together, or as our Elders tell us here at this dinner series, in circle together, learning more about each other and understanding who we are and what our roles are inside that circle. And that’s what Aisinna’kiiks is all about.”
Watch this episode of Living a Creative Life to hear how Aisinna'kiiks came to life and meet the incredible creatives, students, and Elders who made it happen.
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