On Aug. 23, descendants of the Stoney Knoll people came together with descendants of the Mennonite and Lutheran settlers for a gathering at Stoney Knoll to mark the 149th anniversary of the signing of Treaty 6 at Fort Carlton.

The event was held at the Stoney Knoll interpretative site, which acknowledges the Treaty history of the area. The Treaty Commissioner of Saskatchewan, Dr. Kathy Walker, was pleased to be able to attend the event.

In 1876, Chief Chipeewayan and four headmen entered into Treaty and a reserve at Stoney Knoll was surveyed for them, but the descendants of the Stoney Knoll First Nation are still waiting for the land promised under Treaty.

While some progress has been made toward federal recognition and the Stoney Knoll land claim, more work remains. Historically known as the Young Chippewan Band, the community once lived where the town of Laird is now.

The Aug. 23 gathering also marked an MOU signed in 2006 between Stoney Knoll descendants, and local Mennonite and Lutheran residents that committed all signatories to working together peacefully.

Robert Schultz, the last surviving signatory and former chair of St. John’s Lutheran Church, spoke with Treaty Commissioner Walker.

“When we were approached, we just felt we had to open up to everything that was going on,” he said. “I didn’t know what was gonna come out of it.”

The relationship building has become an important part of the MOU, said Walker.