This year Saskatchewan marked 120 years as a province. The Office of the Treaty Commissioner attended the Sask120 event at the Remai Modern in Saskatoon to help reflect on the story of Treaty governance of these lands.

It’s important to note that the Treaties predate the establishment of the Province of Saskatchewan by three decades and that Treaty boundaries exceed provincial boundaries. Despite the Treaties being foundational constitutional agreements, most people in Saskatchewan don’t know much about Treaties, and that is not by accident.  

Teaching Treaties as a foundational pillar of history and governance on this land has not been a fundamental part of the provincial education curriculum.  Settlement proceeded without honouring the Treaty relationship, with Treaty nations and citizens often treated as obstacles rather than as partners in forging a peaceful and harmonious way of life for everyone based on sharing the land.

That lack of education has created outstanding issues that First Nations continue to deal with today including the misunderstanding of Treaty rights, the belief that Treaties are outdated, and a lack of awareness that First Nations never surrendered the land.

A big part of the work of the OTC is Treaty education and awareness, a role that is necessary for us all to understand the truth of our shared history: Treaties are the original blueprint for reconciliation and we are all Treaty people.

The Government of Saskatchewan has taken meaningful steps to advance Treaty education over the past 20 years:  highway signs mark Treaty boundaries, Treaty education is now mandated in K–12 schools, and the province proclaims Treaties Recognition Week annually.

While important steps, there is still a lot of work to be done. Treaty education needs to be more consistent.

Treaties are not just moral obligations, they are recognized in First Nations core constitutional documents, Canada’s Constitution and internationally in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Honouring Treaties enables shared success through innovation and ongoing dialogue, nurtures just relationships, and offers a path forward where all people benefit.