Flags from member nations of Treaty 7 and the Métis Nation of Alberta were permanently put on display in Calgary's council chambers on Monday.

"I've always been really aware of the fact that I sit below those two dates, 135 years ago and 125 years ago, the dates that we celebrate as the foundation of Calgary as a town and as a city," Mayor Naheed Nenshi said as he announced the installation, pointing to the Calgary city crest on the wall.

"I'm also deeply aware of the fact our history is so, so much longer than that."

Chiefs representing the nations were in the front row for the announcement, to see the flags displayed in alphabetical order from left to right: Bearspaw, Blood/Kainai, Chiniki, Piikani, Siksika, Tsuut'ina, Wesley and Métis.

"For Indigenous folks who live in the city it's something to celebrate when we're recognized, and what true reconciliation actually means," Lawrence Gervais, president of Métis Nation of Alberta Region 3, said.

Piikani Nation Chief Stanley Grier said the gesture was an important way to convey a sense of inclusiveness to descendents of the original inhabitants of Mohkintsis which

"It was a great honour for us to be invited here to city council today to set foot back on our traditional territories and to feel a spirit of reconciliation and inclusiveness," Grier said. "Hopefully this will demonstrate and convey to all peoples … that we have a strong historical partnership between the original inhabitants and newcomers."

Council had given the direction for the flags to be displayed in August last year, in alignment with recommendations made by the Calgary Aboriginal Urban Affairs Committee in the White Goose Flying report.

Nenshi said that time was spent ensuring proper consultations were done with various local Indigenous groups.

The flags join others representing the police service, fire department and various military regiments associated with Calgary's history. The Treaty 7 flag was raised permanently outside Calgary city hall in 2017.