U of A opens $16.8M First Peoples' House on campus, marking reconciliation milestone
The 40,000-square-foot building opens to over 2,000 Indigenous students with sacred healing spaces, gyms, and study areas.
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The University of Alberta opened its $16.8 million First Peoples' House on Monday, August 24, creating the first dedicated campus space designed specifically for the university's more than 2,000 Indigenous students.
The 40,000-square-foot building replaces a cramped ceremony space inside the Students' Union Building that could hold only about 50 people. Four years of student consultation informed the design, which includes three floors for socializing, a gym, a sacred healing space, a garden of tipis for quiet reflection, study and mentoring areas, and offices for student support services.
Shana Dion, the U of A's assistant dean for First Nation, Métis and Inuit students, recalled that many students were stunned when the university first committed to building a dedicated facility. "It's needed because we've never been allowed in this space from the very beginning," Dion said. "The universities weren't created for us in mind, and now that they are, we get to stand firmly and authentically in who we are in this space."
U of A President Bill Flanagan called the opening a "massive milestone" in the university's reconciliation journey. The building's opening comes in the year marking the 150th anniversary of the signing of Treaty 6.
Delilah Mah, leader of First Peoples' House, emphasized the care that went into creating the space, praising Dion's dedication to ensuring Indigenous students would find community and support within the building.
The facts
When did the University of Alberta open its First Peoples' House?
The University of Alberta opened its First Peoples' House on Monday, August 24, 2026.
How much did the First Peoples' House cost to build?
The First Peoples' House cost $16.8 million to construct.
How many Indigenous students does the University of Alberta have?
The University of Alberta has more than 2,000 Indigenous students.
What does the First Peoples' House include?
The 40,000-square-foot building features three floors for socializing, a gym, a sacred healing space, a garden of tipis for quiet reflection, study and mentoring areas, and offices for student support services.
