News

The Office of the Treaty Commissioner of Saskatchewan is thrilled to celebrate alongside Beardy’s and Okemasis’ Cree Nation as Treaty 6 medals were presented to the community today.

“It was so important to be there today to see a Treaty medal returned home. These medals we presented today are opening the door towards reconciliation, and another small step towards seeing full Treaty implementation,” said Mary Culbertson, Treaty Commissioner of Saskatchewan.

Culbertson, and the Lieutenant Governor, the Honourable Russ Mirasty, presented the Treaty 6 medals at a ceremony at Chief Beardy’s Campsite, near St. Anne de Carlton, this afternoon.

The Treaty medals were taken from the communities in 1885 by Canada’s military commander at the time, Frederick Middleton, who accused the chiefs of violence, and threatened to burn the reserves if they didn’t comply. To ensure the survival of their people and protect them from harm the chiefs handed over the medals. The Cree Nations were labelled rebellion bands by the Canadian government and treaty annuity payments were discontinued for years.

In 2001 Beardy’s and Okemasis’ Cree Nation argued that the Canadian government over-stated Cree participation in the resistance to eliminate the tribal governance system. On May 6, 2015 the Specific Claims Tribunal agreed that the Beardy’s and Okemasis’ Cree Nation was not disloyal, and the Crown breached its lawful obligations by stopping the payments. The Government of Canada was required to pay $4.5 million to the Cree Nation, but the medals were not returned.

“Today’s ceremony giving back Treaty medals is a step towards righting the historical wrongs. Having a shared understanding Canada’s history, knowing these stories, is a vital part of the journey of reconciliation,” Culbertson said.

The Treaty 6 medals given to Beardy’s and Okemasis’ Cree Nation are re-orders of the original Treaty medals commissioned by the Crown in 1872. The medals are 72 mm in diameter, weigh about 312 grams and made of solid silver.

The participants in the Office of the Treaty Commissioner – Youth in Service had interesting guests at their last Zoom call in August.

The Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan Russ Mirasty and his wife Donna Mirasty, joined them to speak about what it is like being the first Indigenous person in the role in the province, and to reflect on what it means to be Indigenous.

“We are a wonderful, beautiful, people and we have a lot to share and I think society in general is starting to see that,” Mirasty said to the youth, telling them to believe in who they are and where they come from.

Stepping into the role of Lieutenant Governor meant being of the forefront of change, he said.

“If you want change within a system, the best way to facilitate that or be a catalyst for change is to be within that system,” Mirasty said. “It’s easy to be outside and … but step inside and commit to being part of the change in some way.”

“I’ve had nothing but tremendous support and that’s from my own community, other First Nation and Indigenous communities, and we’re humbled by that and that took away any doubts for me,” he said.

When His Honour was installed, there it was the first time there was a pipe ceremony at Government House.

“By being in the office it’s been a really great opportunity to introduce different aspects of culture and ceremony to the role.”

Mirasty talked about promoting the value of education and his ongoing support for young people.

“It’s really awesome to hear what you have to say to us as youth,” said Kaileigh Dumont, who is part of the Youth in Service team.

In total, 18 youth and staff from the OTC joined the call to hear and be inspired.

“I feel pride in knowing there is a Lieutenant Governor who is a First Nations individual and takes pride in that identity,” said OTC director of public education Amy Seesequasis.

The Office of the Treaty Commissioner congratulates the graduates of 2020! This marks the beginning of change, saying goodbye to the patterns, classrooms and friends of the past few years and getting ready to embrace what life throws at you next.

Now is a difficult, and exciting, time for graduates. The world is changing rapidly, which while there is so much unknown, there are also so many ways to have an impact.

Many of the participants in the OTC Youth in Service are graduating this year. Not only did these young men and women, study and work hard in the classroom, but they made it their goal to make a difference in their communities. They traveled across the province from the north to the south, to talk about reconciliation, and to meet others interested in making change.

Congratulations to Aailyah, Peace, Nolan, Emilio, Brelanda, Mya, Chante, Joy, Sarah, Bethany, and Nautia, on your graduation and best wishes and you start your next adventure.

People will tell you it can’t be done until you do it. Then they might tell you it was luck. But, keep succeeding over and over again. Show them your spirit is strong. Show them what you can do.

We are proud of you, your impact, and we are excited to see what you do next.

The Office of the Treaty Commissioner hosted a virtual National Indigenous Peoples Day event on June 21.

We were so excited to have people from across the province join us with their words and performances. The entire event was hosted live by Knowledge Keeper Lyndon Linklater, who pulled the event together wonderfully, sharing information and stories.

It was also great to have you all joining us with comments and feedback. If you missed it, or want to watch your favourite parts again, you can find it on the OTC Facebook page.

On June 1, 2008, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada began its work documenting the history and impacts of the residential school system on Indigenous students and their families. Across the country residential school Survivors had the opportunity to share their experiences.

In June 2015, the commission released an executive summary of the findings along with 94 Calls to Action to promote the work of reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.

Today marks the five-year anniversary of the Calls to Action. The journey of reconciliation remains a part of the Treaty work of the Office of the Treaty Commissioner. In the fall of 2019, the OTC released the Vision for Truth and Reconciliation through Treaty Implementation, which share the collective hopes and goals of Saskatchewan people for the future. We are looking to understand where we are now and plan our way forward, so we can measure the growth of reconciliation in the province.

But we cannot do this work alone. Now more than ever we need everyone to remember that they are part of Treaty, and do their part to ensure Treaty rights are implemented. There are people in these territories who want to be good neighbours and Treaty partners, and through these examples we will honour the relationship our ancestors wanted for us.

We are using the anniversary in a time of COVID-19, with its health and socio-economic impacts, to call on Canada to ensure full implementation of Treaty. Treaty 6 holds the medicine chest clause where it was promised there would be relief in times of pestilence, and throughout Treaty negotiations, promises of medicine and medical care were made.

This means our communities Indigenous and non-Indigenous need to work together to safely and healthily weather this storm. Out most vulnerable population is our elderly: our Survivors of the residential school system, whose truths it is that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action were built on.

Reconciliation is a way forward from past wrongs, and current challenges.

We call on people in Saskatchewan to read the TRC Calls to Action and find ways they can engage in reconciliation. We must walk this journey together.

The Office of the Treaty Commissioner is pleased to partner with and support the work of the Masked Makers, a group of 15 seamstresses located throughout Saskatchewan making masks to support communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Angela Bishop began the project in March because she felt it was needed.

“Naturally I am concerned, I am from the northern community of Green Lake and I understand that there are a number of very complex issues and challenges at play in to our communities, so it is quite worrisome,” she said.

“I started to sew a few masks for my mom, my stepdad, who has cancer, and my brother, who drives medical taxi up north, because they don’t have the fortune of being able to stay home. After I made the masks I shared on social media some of the pictures and information on how to make a mask.”

It quickly grew.

“I initially thought I would just share my knowledge, to teach others how, and then I started getting so many mask requests that I asked my family to help,” Angela said. “For several weeks, only a few family members were helping, but I realized this was not enough, so I reached out to friends to ask for help.”

In the past few weeks they have sent more than 1,200 masks to the communities of La Loche, English River, Beauval, Green Lake, Buffalo Narrows, Pinehouse, and Ile a la Crosse. Another more than 1,000 masks have been shipped to individuals across Canada, the Navajo Nation in the USA, AIDS Saskatoon, and other communities and organizations.

All of the masks they make are free and are intended to incorporate Indigenous culture. For Elders with hearing aids, the group got bands to secure masks behind the hand instead of around the ears, with the words Awas Ota, which loosely translates in Cree as, ‘get away from here.’

“It’s social distancing in the Cree language,” Angela said.

The Masked Makers believe it is important that Indigenous communities have access to reusable face masks, to protect everyone, she said.

“An individual at risk, is a family at risk, is a community at risk, is a Nation at risk, the mask we put on the face of others protects our communities,” Angela said.

Jessica Sinclair is not  letting COVID-19 slow down her awareness raising work.

The 18-year old member of the Office of the Treaty Commissioner Youth in Service project, and put up a banner to raise awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

Jessica put up a large banner in her neighbourhood on May 5 to let people know that Indigenous women are mothers, daughters, and sisters and “we are working towards better lives for our next generation.”

She wants to, “bring awareness to different communities and areas of Saskatoon and maybe they will educate themselves on Canada’s Indigenous people and our history.”

In a message to our team Jessica said she hopes people will have a better understanding of young Indigenous women and Indigenous history.

“I also hope they do some research and spread the word that our Indigenous peopled do go missing and they are murdered. I pray one day our Indigenous women and men stop going missing and we grow stronger together not only as a community but a country.”

The Office of the Treaty Commissioner welcomes the news from Wanuskewin Heritage Park of the birth of a baby bison.

According to a release from the park, the female bison is the firstborn of the herd that Wanuskewin welcomed from the United States in December 2019, with links to the famous Yellowstone herd.

In December 2019, Wanuskewin welcomed eleven genetically-pure Plains bison from herds originating in the United States and Grasslands National Park. More young bison are expected to arrive this spring.

The park says, Wanuskewin’s Elders have been delighted with the arrival of this new life; and have reminded us that the bison need privacy during this time. We kindly remind the public that Wanuskewin is closed due to COVID-19 and everyone will need to wait until Wanuskewin opens during phase four of the Re-Open Saskatchewan.

COVID-19 is creating a very stressful and trying time for many, as they balance working from home, or perhaps a loss of income, or if they should leave their homes to support their families, or if it’s even safe to get groceries.

People feeling stress and concern over COVID-19 aren’t alone. Many of us are feeling this way.

I wanted to take a minute to say that even though it is a difficult time, we need to look out for each other. Be physically distant, but take the time to be social: text your friends, call a parent or elder. When you do need to go for essential reasons like getting food or medicines, remember to stay about six feet away from others. Wash your hands often and properly (for at least 20 seconds). If you wear a mask remember it’s about protecting others by containing your germs – don’t touch it when it’s on your face, and only wear it once. When you remove it, put cloth masks to be washed and dispose one-time use masks. Wash your hands afterwards.

By staying home and supporting each other from a distance we can beat COVID-19.

If you or anyone in your community can sew and is interested in making masks that can be shared in First Nations communities, please let us know.

I know it all seems difficult, but it’s just a short time in our lives and we must remain home and safe for our loved ones.

Sincerely,

Mary Culbertson,
Treaty Commissioner of Saskatchewan

In response to the ongoing public health emergency, COVID-19, we are making some changes to our operations. We want to do our part to help you stay as informed as possible on our work during this time. The impacts of COVID-19 are ever changing and dynamic.

The OTC staff are no longer travelling to events around the province, and work from home.

We’re suspending activities of the speakers bureau. Many of our speakers are elders and it is of upmost importance for us to protect our knowledge keepers. If you have an event booked, you will be contacted shortly to reschedule. We are not accepting new requests for the speakers bureau for the next 30 days and after this time we will revisit the situation.

Other reconciliation events and activities hosted by the OTC will be rescheduled or cancelled on a case-by-case basis. The information will be posted on OTC Twitter and Facebook as it becomes available.

Resources on how to stay safe and healthy during this time are available through the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health.

The Office of the Treaty Commissioner understands that challenging times like these can be stressful. We need to take care of ourselves, while looking out for our friends, relatives and community.

Thank you for your ongoing support.