On the southwest edge of Calgary, a 1,200-acre mixed-use development is reshaping expectations for how communities on Indigenous lands are planned and delivered. Taza — three interconnected community villages called Taza Park, Buffalo Run and The Crossing — welcomed its first residents in March under a unique 50/50 partnership between the Tsuut’ina Nation and Canadian developer Canderel.
Such partnerships are uncommon on Indigenous lands, where traditional development models often give greater control to outside companies, leaving Indigenous communities with less influence over planning and outcomes. The result of the Taza partnership is drawing national attention as a new model for culturally grounded, consensus-driven development.
At the heart of the project is Taza Development Corp. (TDC) that oversees all planning and execution. TDC reports to a board of directors that has two Nation board members and two representatives from Canderel. Every major decision requires agreement from both partners, ensuring Tsuut’ina values and priorities are embedded from strategy to day-to-day operations. “Leadership was very clear: if this was going to be successful, this is how the governance model had to be built,” says Randy Dodginghorse, director of Tsuut’ina Relations. He describes his role as part communicator, part bridge-builder. “Partnerships, like marriages, don’t succeed without ongoing communication.”
As tenants and families move in, Taza is entering the phase where governance meets real-world complexity. For Travis Oberg, vice president of Land Development, discipline makes the difference. “Vision sets the direction, but structure delivers the outcome,” he says. With occupancy rising, execution must be precise. Amenities must open on time, infrastructure must function seamlessly and public spaces must support everyday life. “Execution is where intent either holds or falls apart,” Oberg notes.
Environmental performance is central to this delivery. At Taza Park, the 470-acre village now under active build-out, builders must achieve Built Green Gold certification. TDC evaluates environmental resilience, long-term economic viability and infrastructure durability together, prioritizing neighbourhoods designed for decades rather than short-term targets.
Culture is equally foundational. From street names and public art to landscape strategies, Tsuut’ina teachings are intentionally embedded in the built environment. Collaboration with the Cultural Advisory Committee ensures cultural elements are “meaningful and accurate, not symbolic gestures,” says Oberg. The goal is a lived sense of place, an environment that tells a story residents experience daily. “No one else can represent what Tsuut’ina has here,” he adds.
More than a mixed-use development, Taza is a living example of how cultural grounding, equal governance and long-term vision can shape a new model for prosperity. For the Tsuut’ina Nation, it strengthens economic resilience while safeguarding cultural integrity; for the Calgary region, it introduces new homes, jobs and commercial anchors that enrich the city’s edge. As leasing accelerates and neighbourhoods come to life, Taza stands poised to ignite curiosity and set a new benchmark for how community-led development on Indigenous lands can be planned, financed and built across North America.
To learn more, visit taza.ca
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