A big piece of Saskatchewan history is being celebrated in Fort Qu’Appelle over the next week.
Thirty-four chiefs and thousands of First Nations students will be in the community for the annual Treaty 4 gathering.
The treaty was signed on September 15th, 1874, and covers most of southern Saskatchewan, as well as parts of Manitoba and Alberta.
Tomorrow marks the 138th anniversary of the signing.
It will be marked by a flag raising, a pipe ceremony, a parade, and a pow wow.
The Town of Fort Qu’Appelle and the Treaty 4 leadership will be raising the Treaty 4 flag permanently in the township — marking the first time a Saskatchewan town raises the Treaty 4 flag.
Last fall, Regina became the first city to permanently raise the Treaty 4 flag.
Fort Qu’Appelle Mayor Ron Osika notes that his community was one of the first in the province to establish an urban reserve — and he says the raising the of the flag is a commitment to ongoing positive relationships and future co-operation:
“I take a great deal of pride in the fact that we’re fortunate to be the home of the Treaty 4 Governance Centre and the Treaty 4 Park, which is maintained in downtown Fort Qu’Appelle.”
Five-thousand students will arrive on Tuesday for three days of youth activities.