The provincial government and the Office of the Treaty Commissioner have unveiled new signs to mark Treaty boundaries along several busy Saskatchewan highways.
At an event at Wanuskewin Heritage Park on Wednesday the new signs were unveiled in a special ceremony.
The new highway signs will be placed in areas around La Ronge, Estevan, Moosomin, and Lanigan to highlight boundaries between different treaty territories.
“These treaty signs will be very unique and will play an important role to the many motorists who see these signs in the language of the territories they represent,” said Athabasca MLA Jim Lemaigre. “They are more than just markers on the highway they are signs of reconciliation.”
“These signs allow people to recognize and understand the Treaty territories that were here long before the creation of the province,” added Treaty Commissioner Mary Culbertson. “The highways cross these territories and it is important that it is acknowledged.”
The Treaty signs will display Indigenous languages specific to the region, a phrase that represents the spirit and intent of the treaties, and will be adorned with a treaty medal.
One of the signs will be placed north of La Ronge on Highway 102 to mark the border of Treaty 6 and treaty 10.
Treaty Commissioner Mary Culbertson says the installation of more of these signs are planned in the future.
Once installed, these signs will join two other signs unveiled last year on Highway 11 in between Saskatoon and Regina to mark the boundary of Treaty 6 and Treaty 4.
(PHOTO: one of the treaty signs marking the boundary of Treaty 6. Photo by Joel Willick.)