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Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation invited the head of the British Crown to attend the 150th Commemoration of Treaty 6 at Fort Carlton this August. Now, it appears the offer has been reciprocated.
A delegation of seven Treaty 6 leaders has travelled to London to meet with His Majesty King Charles III at Buckingham Palace on March 11.
The delegation will have a day and a half to sit with the King.
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“Ahtahkakoop took the lead on inviting the head of the British Crown to reaffirm the continued relationship between Treaty 6 First Nations and the Crown for as long as the sun shines, the grass grows, and the rivers flow,” said Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation Chief Larry Ahenakew, who is part of the delegation.
“The aim of the delegation is to contribute to honouring Treaty 6 and the Treaties 1-11 bundle,” said Chief Daryl Watson of Mistawasis Nēhiyawak.
“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.”
The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) and the Office of the Treaty Commissioner have assisted in advocating for a royal visit to Fort Carlton this year. During next week’s visit in London, delegates plan to extend an in-person invitation to the King.
As part of the 150th commemoration, Chief Edwin Ananas of Beardy’s & Okemasis Cree Nation is planning to bring original treaty parchments back to historic sites in Treaty 6 territory.
The parchments were official, portable records representing the foundational agreements between the Crown and First Nations between 1871 and 1906. The Treaty 6 document will stop at signing sites including Beardy’s Camp, Fort Pitt, and Enoch Cree Nation in 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,” said Chief Ananas.
Chief Christine Longjohn of Sturgeon Lake First Nation plans on gifting the King with baby moccasins “to represent that care for our children and future generations must be at the centre of our governance and decision-making.”
The Delegation of Treaty 6 Leadership will consist of:
• Chief Larry Ahenakew (Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation)
• Chief Darryl Watson (Mistawasis Nêhiyawak)
• Chief Edwin Ananas (Beardy’s & Okemasis Cree Nation)
• Chief Christine Longjohn (Sturgeon Lake First Nation)
• Councillor Gary LaPlante (Stoney Knoll First Nation)
• Grand Council Chief Joey Pete (Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations)
• Chief Desmond Bull (Louis Bull Tribe)
Chiefs speak of hopes, intent for London visit
Chief Larry Ahenakew from Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation said an opportunity like this is rare.
“(We) probably won’t come back for another 25 years, so we want to make the best time we can while we’re there,” he said at the Saskatoon airport before departing for London.
The chiefs travelling for the meeting are covering their own individual costs for the trip.
“The main topic is to bring him (the King) here for the commemoration of 150 years, and at that time is when he is here, we can discuss our treaties,” explained Beardy’s and Okemasis Cree Nation Chief Edwin Ananas.
“It’s been many years where our treaties have been either watered down or overlooked period. So I guess part of our discussion will be adhering to our treaties.”
Ananas said the trip has been two years in the making and is nervous but glad to see the King is finding time for First Nations people, “to listen to us and to hopefully one day be able to have him here where treaty has been signed 150 years ag0.”
He said they play to speak with the King about future generations and the importance of treaties.
“It’s a binding document that he needs to listen to us for,” Ananas said.
Chief Christine Longjohn from Sturgeon Lake First Nation expressed her hopes for the trip before departing.
“One thing that I would want the king to know is we are still here, and we still have all of our traditions and all of our values that we had before the signing of treaties,” she said.
– with files from 650 CKOM’s Roman Hayter and Marija Robinson
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