The plaque was unveiled at a ceremony at the Molanosa Cultural Grounds. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

130 years

Plaque unveiled to commemorate Treaty 6 adhesion

Aug 28, 2019 | 4:01 PM

The unveiling of the Treaty 6 Adhesion Commemorative Plaque will serve as a reminder of the special relationship between the Woodland Cree and the Crown.

A ceremony was held Wednesday at the Molanosa Cultural Grounds after more than one year of planning by a committee of appointed members from the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, Montreal Lake Cree Nation and Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation. Montreal Lake Coun. Eldon Henderson is the chairperson of the committee and it was his idea to commemorate the Treaty 6 adhesion.

“It’s to honour our ancestors who signed treaty 130 years ago and we have the opportunity now to get a plaque ready for the monument,” he said. “The monument has to be still built yet. The plaque will go on there.”

There were many dignitaries in attendance for the ceremony including Saskatchewan Lt.-Gov. Russell Mirasty, Assembly of First Nations Chief Perry Bellegarde and Prince Albert Grand Council Chief Brian Hardlotte. The Office of the Treaty Commissioner was invited, as well as representatives from the provincial and federal governments. Police officers with the RCMP were also there to transport attendees to the actual site where the treaty was signed about a five minute boat ride to the north end of Montreal Lake.

Henderson also explained the event was part of a book and documentary about the Treaty 6 adhesion that the committee is also working on. He noted photos and video taken at the unveiling will be included in those projects, which should be completed this fall. Compared to the amount of information available on the Numbered Treaties, Henderson mentioned there’s a lack of research about the adhesion.

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“This is part of treaty reconciliation, so we want to have the province and feds joining us in the celebration,” he said.

Chief Bellegarde stated it was important for him to attend the unveiling because it’s crucial to keep the relationship between First Nations and the Crown intact. He noted it wasn’t so much of a celebration, but rather a commemoration because the treaty is yet to be fully implemented according to the spirit and intent of treaty clauses.

“This is part of the ongoing commitment we have to build a better country and, as First Nations people, we are sharing a lot of land, territory and resource with everyone else, and it was all about peaceful co-existence and mutual respect,” he said.

Saskatchewan Lt.-Gov. Russell Mirasty is wrapped in a blanket at the commemoration. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

Lac La Ronge Chief Tammy Cook-Searson was also present at the ceremony and she said it was all about remembering where the bands came from. She mentioned the committee worked hard to make the plaque unveiling into a reality.

“It’s important to do that and to show that we’re still here, we’re strong, we’re still proud,” Cook-Searson said. “Many of us still practice our culture, our language and being on the land.”

Back in July, the Lac La Ronge Indian Band placed a headstone at the gravesite of Chief James Roberts who signed the Treaty 6 adhesion on Feb. 11, 1889, on behalf of the band.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno