The 55th Algonquian Conference will take place at the Telus Centre on the University of Alberta’s North Campus in Edmonton / amiskwaciy-wâskahikan / Omahkoyis, Alberta. The welcome reception will take place at the Room at the Top (RATT) in the Student Union Building (SUB), while the conference banquet will take place at the Art Gallery of Alberta (AGA).
Edmonton / ᐊᒥᐢᑿᒌᐚᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ / amiskwaciy-wâskahikan / Omahkoyis
Edmonton (/ˈɛdməntən/) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Alberta. As of 2021, Edmonton had a population of 1,010,899, making it the fifth-largest city in Canada, and the northernmost city in North America to have a population of over one million.
Edmonton was first inhabited by several First Nations peoples, namely of Algonquian, Athabaskan and Siouan origin. These peoples and their ancestors inhabited the area of the modern city to varying amounts beginning at the close of the last glacial period, perhaps as early as 12,000 BCE. The city was also a historic site for the Métis, who held many narrow lots along the North Saskatchewan.
Indigenous languages refer to the Edmonton area by multiple names which refer to the presence of fur trading posts. In Cree, the area is known as ᐊᒥᐢᑿᒌᐚᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ amiskwaciy-wâskahikan, which translates to “Beaver Hills House” and references the location’s proximity to the Beaver Hills east of Edmonton. In Blackfoot, the area is known as Omahkoyis, meaning ‘big lodge’; in Nakota Sioux, the area is known as Titâga, and in Tsuutʼina, as Nââsʔágháàchú, both meaning ‘big house’. In Denesuline, the area is known as Kuę́ Nedhé, which generally means ‘city’.
Weatherwise, days in October can yet be quite warm, with the temperature in the teens (in centigrade), but night-time temperatures fall close to, but mostly still above zero. The forecast for the conference dates appears a mixture of sun and cloud, with gradually decreasing day-time and night-time temperatures:
Telus Centre
The Algonquian conference will take place in two spaces in the Telus Centre (rooms 131 and 134), for which a map will be included here later on.
Welcome reception
A reception will take place Thursday evening at the Room at the Top (RATT), a restaurant on campus a short walk from the University Transit Centre, on the topmost floor of the Student Union Building (SUB). The menu can be found here. Our reservation begins at 6:00 PM.
Note: Google Maps directs you to the south of the building, though the entrance is on the north side. Apologies!
Conference banquet
The banquet will take place Saturday evening at the newly-renovated Art Gallery of Alberta. Doors will open 6:00 PM and food will be served at 7:00 PM. The Museum is located at 2 Sir Winston Churchill Sq. To get to the Museum, you can take the Capital (Clareview) or Metro (NAIT) lines to Churchill Station (one stop past Central Station). The Museum is a 2 minute walk from Churchill Station, or a 60-minute walk if leaving from North Campus.
