A whole bunch gathered in Fort Qu’Appelle, Sask., Sunday to mark the milestone of the 150th anniversary of the signing of Treaty 4.
In line with Indigenous leaders, the treaty signed by their ancestors is the formalization of the connection between the Indigenous People of Canada and the Crown.
Many dignitaries attended, together with Premier Scott Moe and Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan Russ Mirasty. Varied First Nations Chiefs spoke to the significance of treaty, together with Chief Lynn Acoose of Zagime Anishibek First Nation, one of many Treaty 4 nations.
“After we signed the treaty, we introduced all of our legal guidelines and beliefs with us, so it’s additionally a sacred settlement. The treaty is actually about our relationship and the way we agreed to stay collectively below peaceable co-existence,” she mentioned.
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Mirasty handed out King Charles III coronation medals to lots of the chiefs, who shared their tales with these in attendance. The occasion occurred in a tent on Treaty 4 territory, the place the treaty was signed in 1874.
Former chief of the Meeting of First Nations (AFN), Parry Bellegarde, mentioned when retelling historical past it is very important keep in mind the darker chapters, just like the Indian Act, enacted in 1876, two years after the treaty was signed.
“We couldn’t depart the reserve and not using a allow till 1951, didn’t have entry to a lawyer till 1951. We didn’t have a proper to vote in Canada’s elections, federal or provnicial elections till 1961,” Bellegard mentioned.
“The Indian Act was a approach of colonizing and controlling our folks and it’s nonetheless right here, we’ve to maintain working to the complete implementation (of the treaty), based on the spirit and intent, not the legalistic interpretation,” he mentioned.
Present AFN Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nipenak mentioned protecting the previous in thoughts is essential, however the one option to transfer ahead is collectively.
“Understanding our shared historical past, we do have historical past with one another and understanding that we’ve a future, as many have mentioned right here at the moment – a shared future. How will we get again to get that? And the way will we come to the desk to speak about these actually robust points? I do know that they’re not all the time snug points, however they’re so vital that we’ve them and we communicate collectively,” she mentioned.
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