The local community celebrated North Battleford Urban Treaty Day with a variety of events outside the Dekker Centre throughout the day on Wednesday.
The event was organized by Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs (BATC).
Vivian Whitecalf, BATC community development coordinator, is also on the planning committee for Urban Treaty Day.
“It’s a celebration of our treaties,” she said. “There is a treaty day on every First Nation in Saskatchewan. They also have urban treaty days in all the bigger centres in the province.”
Whitecalf said First Nations people from the area can come to collect their treaty annuity payments at the event each year.
This is the third year the event was held in North Battleford. The day started with an opening ceremony that included local dignitaries before a free hamburger lunch as well as a mini powwow celebration during the afternoon.
“It was a really good turnout,” Whitecalf said. “I think the heat might have stopped some people from coming, but it was an awesome turnout. We ran out of burgers sooner than expected.”
Inside the Dekker Centre, a number of booths were set up to raise awareness of the various services and agencies available to families in the area.
Whitecalf said there was a special place created inside the Dekker Centre to make the Elders attending more comfortable as well.
She said it’s important to offer an Urban Treaty Day event right in North Battleford.
“The Battlefords are surrounded by a large First Nation community population,” Whitecalf said. “To have an Urban Treaty Day here serves our people.”
angela.brown@jpbg.ca
On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW
