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Treaty Day breaks new ground in North Battleford

May 4, 2016 | 5:00 PM

It was a first for the city as treaty annuities were handed out at the Dekker Centre.

“This is the first time the Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs organized an urban treaty gathering in North Battleford,” Red Peasant band member, Reg Bugler, said. “They picked wonderful facilities to host it. It’s a big hit.”

Wednesday, May 4 was Treaty Day where annuity payments are paid annually on a national basis to registered First Nations who are entitled to them through membership to bands that have signed historic treaties with the Crown.

“The Urban treaty gathering is for those who live off reserve,” Bugler said. “It’s historical. We only get five bucks annually from the federal government and I think in most cases that’s the only part of their treaty that they’ve upheld.”