Day 14 - Monday, September 30

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation - it's an exceptionally big deal here, as it should be, so we found and attended a Blackfoot Pipe Ceremony to start our day. It was requested and we respected the Blackfoot protocol of no photos or videos during the ceremony. Before the ceremony began Karen approached the Chief and his wife and asked if I could take a photo of them. With the promise this would not be posted on the internet they happily obliged. He was holding his headdress in his hand and they were both dressed or partially dressed in their ceremonial clothes. His full council of elders arrived shortly after this photo. I have to say it was a beautiful ceremony and quickly puts one in their place about this day.

The ceremony was held in the Town of Okotoks Municipal Centre right across the road from our hotel. It was supposed to have been held in a nearby park but the ground was too wet. Fortunately we learned of the new venue from a local strolling in the park. I was so pleased to see the number of people attending. This shot, taken as we left, is about a third of the crowd. That Centre was packed. We had our masks on in a hurry.

We have seen the classic Banff, Moraine Lake and Lake Louise several times before so we chose to forgo another visit knowing it would be a madhouse on this beautiful cool fall day. Instead we took a 300 kilometre drive through Kananaskis Country. It is absolutely gorgeous! Here's a few thousand words worth of photos.  😅

Though you'd never believe it from the preceding photos I was flabbergasted, gobsmacked, blown away and more at how crowded certain areas were today. I'm sure glad we didn't go anywhere near Banff. 

OMG these people were all desperate for just four portapotties.   😂 

Gonna be hard to top this tomorrow. Nah, won't even try.   😎