2021 Heritage Calgary Awards - Cultural Landscapes: Jesse Salus (CalgaryRingRoad.com)

2021 Heritage Calgary Awards

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Jesse Salus at Weaselhead.

Jesse Salus, CalgaryRingRoad.com
Winner of the 2021 Heritage Calgary Award: Cultural Landscapes

This year’s Heritage Calgary Award-winning projects highlight the important histories of all who make their home on Treaty 7 territory. The Cultural Landscapes category recognizes historically significant landscapes that have become important to different cultures and societies over time.

Jesse Salus is a land research consultant at Tsuut’ina Nation and a former graphic designer. He is the winner of the Cultural Landscapes Award for his in-depth research project, CalgaryRingRoad.com, where he delves into the complex history of the disputed territory along Calgary’s North Glenmore Park.

HC: Tell us a bit about your project.

Jesse: I created the CalgaryRingRoad.com website nine years ago in response to a desire to record, convey, and clarify the long and complex history of the SW Calgary Ring Road. This work has led me to examine the history of the Tsuut’ina Nation reserve lands, and that aspect has now become an equal focus for the site.

The land in question is about 1.25 acres in area, adjacent to 37th Street SW and 66th Avenue SW in North Glenmore Park - just south of the Tsuut’ina Nation reserve. It is a complex history establishing true ownership of the area, but essentially it can be traced back to 1899 when the government at the time (Government of Northwest Territories), wanted to improve an old trail on the Tsuu’tina Nation reserve in order to create a public highway.

The Nation agreed to relinquish the land to be maintained as a public highway, with the request that the government also erect a bridge over Elbow river at the existing Weaselhead Crossing. But when the land was surrendered, the documentation did not contain a legal description of the land nor did it contain a formal survey of the route. The government also did not obtain letters patent or title to the land, but proceeded to begin work on the highway in 1900.

As the area developed, the government relocated the Weaselhead Bridge from its original place to 1.5 km downstream in 1905, thus also rerouting the public highway to un-surrendered land on the Tsuut’ina Nation reserve. No consultation with the Nation was attempted. The Department of Indian Affairs requested a “clean survey” of the area after the local government provided a number of outdated plans regarding the trail in its former location. This led to the creation of the ‘Final Survey’ in 1907 by the now-Provincial Government of Alberta, including the disputed territory.

HC: What’s your background in this area?

Jesse: I honestly don’t have much experience in terms of land designation research, with my background being in communications and graphic design for the last 20 years. But I’m now working with the Tsuut'ina Nation doing historical research. I have taught myself the skills to properly research these types of projects, citing sources and doing my due diligence to ensure accuracy. 

HC: What inspired you to do this work?

Jesse: I currently live in Lakeview, so you could say this area is like my backyard. So it started from a desire to understand the area better and the previously ongoing Ring Road project the city was undertaking with the Nation. It was a labour of love that I undertook in my free time.

HC: Why is sharing stories about heritage important to you?

Jesse: We can take for granted that things “have always been the way they are” today, and that there is a long history behind these areas that we go to every day. As the Nation looks to continue developing its land, we’re going to see a lot more interactions between the two communities. So if we have a better understanding of each other and our histories, we can be better neighbours.

HC: What’s something specific you’d like people to know about your work?

Jesse: A big part of this is looking at how poorly handled some of these land transactions have been. I just assume that when someone buys or sells land, or when the government builds a road, things are done properly. And they are done this way today, for the most part, but when you look at history it’s about understanding how non-Indigenous people have coveted the Tsuut’ina Nation reserve land for many years, effectively trying to kick them out and take the land for themselves. And then you have Priddis Trail where the road was moved without obtaining permission, without seeking land titles and without properly compensating the Nation for these transactions, it’s an eye opener.

“Sarcee tipis at Weaselhead, Alberta.” [ca. 1880-1889]. Glenbow Archives NA-4898-1

HC: What’s something people might be surprised to know or learn about your project?

Jesse: The response has been very positive, I’ve had people come back to me and say they appreciate how well-researched the work is. When I first moved to the area, I didn’t know the Weaselhead was formerly part of the Tsuut’ina Nation reserve. So even something like that which seems obvious and that we take for granted. So it reminds me that there are a lot of people who come to this park everyday who don’t know any of this history. I know that when the Ring Road was being debated a number of years ago, a lot of Calgarians were frustrated with the Nation for the length of time it took to try to make a deal. It wasn’t until I started trying to understand the history of the land and the way the land is used by Nation members, it puts the issue of this project into perspective a bit better.

HC: In one word, what does ‘heritage’ mean to you?

Jesse: Connection. For me it’s the connection to the land but it’s also being reminded that things haven’t always been how they are now. It’s a reminder that there were generations of people before us, living their lives and making decisions and all of that has led to where we are today. So it’s a connection to the past as well.

“Statue of lion on Centre Street bridge, Calgary, Alberta.” 1977. NA-2399-91. Courtesy the Glenbow Digital Collection, University of Calgary.

The Heritage Calgary Awards recognize the diverse heritage of our shared home. Every second year we honour those who have made efforts to identify, preserve, and promote heritage in Calgary to help enrich our communities.

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