Aidan Jagger
Saskatoon StarPhoenix
Treaty 6 First Nations will be represented by seven Saskatchewan chiefs in London to meet King Charles III on Wednesday at Buckingham Palace.
The delegation’s leaders were expected to invite the king to attend the 150th Commemoration of Treaty 6 at Fort Carlton, Sask. taking place Aug. 20-23.
The Delegation of Treaty 6 leadership consists of Chief Larry Ahenakew of the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation, Chief Darryl Watson of Mistawasis Nêhiyawak and Chief Edwin Ananas of the Beardy’s and Okemasis Cree Nation.
Chief Christine Longjohn of the Sturgeon Lake First Nation, Councillor Gary LaPlante of the Stoney Knoll First Nation, Grand Council Chief Joey Pete of the Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations and Chief Desmond Bull of the Louis Bull Tribe will also be in attendance.
The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) said in a statement that Ahenakew took charge of leading the invite of the British Crown to reaffirm the continued relationship with Treaty 6 First Nations.
Ahenakew added the delegation has partnered with the FSIN and the Office of the Treaty Commissioner for the potential royal visit. It would also see the original Treaty 6 parchment return to Fort Carlton for the first time since 1876.
Watson said “the aim of the delegation is to contribute to honouring Treaty 6 and the Treaties 1-11 bundle.”
“As a delegation, we do not seek to speak for all of Treaty 6, because each nation exercises its own sovereign, self-determining authority and voice,” he added.
Ananas took the lead in bringing the original Treaty 6 parchment back to Saskatchewan and Alberta.
“While the treaty texts do not tell the complete story of what was agreed to under Treaty 6, they are a key part of our history and my hope is that the visiting Treaty 6 exhibits will provide much needed treaty education and awareness that will provide a strong foundation for realizing treaty over the next 150 years,” Ananas said.
Longjohn said she plans on giving King Charles III baby moccasins to “represent that care for our children and future generations must be at the centre of our governance and decision-making.”
