Celebrations are underway at Montreal Lake Cree Nation to celebrate their adhesion to Treaty Six, which took place 135 years ago. The Treaty Six adhesion was signed under Chief William Charles in Molanosa, which is on the northeastern shores of Montreal Lake.
Today at the Senator Allen Bird Memorial School it’s a normal school day enhanced with guest speakers and re-enactments of some discussions that took place over 100 years ago.
Treaty Six was signed 13 years prior in Fort Carlton/Fort Pitt and people from MLCN grew curious about Treaty Six as it was promoted by many people that signed at that time.
“James Roberts had a church up in the La Ronge area and Little Hills had a church there and promoted that they wanted to be signers of that treaty that was signed 13 years prior,” said Prince Albert Grand Council Senator, Nolan Henderson.
At the time in exchange for traditional territories government negotiators would offer First Nations various promises, both orally and written within the treaties. Some common promises were things like money, hunting and fishing rights, land set aside and more.
“We need to signify the point that our people have existed on this land base and water ways for centuries and that treaty signing is a signing that took place and a promise to share the land base with the newcomers,” explained Henderson.
Other celebrations are also planned to take place in Montreal Lake on Sunday.
(With Files from Abel Charles.)