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Mayor Don Iveson suggested on the weekend that Edmonton would be an ideal location for a new national museum of aboriginal heritage and culture.

It is a concept, he said, that could breath new life into the former Royal Alberta Museum site and more importantly, be “a way to tangibly express a commitment to reconciliation.”

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Iveson, who floated the idea at a meeting of urban planners as part of a panel on building in an era of reconciliation, said it is a concept in its infancy. It is an idea that is worth talking about; the city of Edmonton is home to more than 61,000 indigenous residents, according to the 2011 census, second only to Winnipeg among Canada’s urban centres. A new facility dedicated to exploring the past, present and future of this country’s diversity of First Nation, Métis and Inuit communities would be a welcome addition to this city’s growing hub of cultural institutions.

But the starting point must be with indigenous groups in the Edmonton region. What do leaders, elders and other members of Treaty 6 and region’s Métis community think about the concept? If there is no buy-in there, then the trial balloon is popped and should go no further.