News

Sasktoon, Saskatchewan – The Office of the Treaty Commissioner (OTC) launched a year of commemoration to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the book, Treaty Elders of Saskatchewan: Our Dream Is That Our Peoples Will One Day Be Clearly Recognized as Nations.

Published in 2000, Treaty Elders of Saskatchewan captures the voices and teachings of Elders from the five Treaty territories. The authors Harold Cardinal and Walter Hildebrandt conducted an extensive truth-gathering effort with the aim of gathering oral histories, traditions, and wisdom about the Treaties. This became an invaluable perspective on the historical and ongoing relationship between First Nations and Canada.

“For the past 25 years, the book has been a key resource for people working on Treaty-related issues, as it ensures that the fundamental teachings of the Treaties are preserved,” said Dr. Kathy Walker, Treaty Commissioner of Saskatchewan.

“I have had people tell me, over and over again, how often they go back to the book for information, that their copies are marked up with post-its. Treaty Elders of Saskatchewan has played a very important role in the work of academics, lawyers, policy makers, and politicians.”

Jacob Bill, who was 76 when he was interviewed for the book, remains a living testament to the wisdom shared by the Elders. He turns 101 on Mar. 7.

“It is individuals like Jacob who help deepen our understanding of Treaty,” said Chief Bobby Cameron during the event.

Despite the comprehensiveness in setting out key doctrines for living in peace and harmony with all our relations, this book remains an outline, waiting to be lived and filled in with deeper understanding by Treaty Elders today and by each one of us.

See more on the event:
Treaty commission celebrates ‘Treaty Elders of Saskatchewan’
Office of the Treaty Commissioner celebrates 25th anniversary of Treaty Elders of Saskatchewan

The Office of the Treaty Commissioner team was so pleased to attend the transfer of buffalo to their traditional territory on the Mosquito Grizzly Bear Head Lean Man First Nation at the end of January.

“We got bundled up with ski pants and everything because it was so cold, but worth it,” said Hailey Morin, a First Nations Youth Mentee at OTC.

“As the drivers were pulling up a group of Indigenous drummers were singing and smudging the buffalo. Then they opened the doors to let them free. They all came running one after another and some stopped and looked at us then continued their way.”

“It was a very emotional day. We all got goosebumps when the buffalo were being transferred,” said Elaine Sutherland, OTC Director of Education.

Dr. Kathy Walker, the Treaty Commissioner of Saskatchewan, brought greetings and shared words alongside Elders, Chief Tanya Stone, Vice-Chief David Pratt, and others.

The OTC acknowledges the leadership of the Chief and Council of Mosquito-Grizzly Bear’s Head-Lean Man First Nation in signing on and implementing the Buffalo Treaty. This Treaty is about strengthening and breathing life into the First Nations’ relationship with the buffalo.

The buffalo that were transferred in this event are originally from Yellowstone National Park and were initially sent to Fort Peck Nation.  As the herd grew, the Nation wanted to give buffalo to a Nation across the Medicine Line.

“It was so beautiful to have witnessed this and I’m so thankful and grateful to have been there with them,” said Hailey.

Watch the video on CBC

The Treaty Commissioner of Saskatchewan and the team at the Office of the Treaty Commissioner offer our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones affected by the loss of four people on Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation this week.

“We were devastated to hear of the deaths and stand in solidarity with the community as they deal with this tragedy. Our hearts are with those who have lost loved ones,” said Dr. Kathy Walker, Treaty Commissioner of Saskatchewan.

The OTC acknowledges the efforts of Carry the Kettle leadership to take steps to ensure healing can begin to take place by opening the community hall for people to visit, pray and smudge.

The road ahead will be challenging, but our collective support can help carry Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation through this difficult time. By living the Treaties, we are reminded of our shared responsibility to support one another through difficult times.

Chief Larry Ahenakew and the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation are extending an official invitation to His Majesty the King to attend the 150th Commemoration of Treaty 6. The Office of the Treaty Commissioner is pleased to support this significant act of Treaty renewal.

The commemoration will take place in the summer of 2026 and the attendance of the British Crown would reinforce the continuity of the Crown’s relationship with First Nations in Treaty 6 and strengthen the relationship between the Crown and First Nations.

“The significance of the pipe ceremony at the conclusion of negotiations, the oral history of our Elders, and the signing of Treaty 6 on August 23, 1876 have long demonstrated that this relationship will last for as long as the sun shines, grass grows, and rivers flow,” said Chief Ahenakew.

This landmark event will honour the collective vision of the 1876 Treaty signatories to forge an irrevocable Treaty relationship based on mutual respect, mutual sharing, peace and friendship.

“When I was approached by Chief Ahenakew about supporting the invitation, I immediately saw the importance of His Majesty’s attendance at such an important milestone,” said Walker.

“We can use our office in its role of intermediary for the Treaty Table to advocate alongside Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation, in particular to parliamentary offices and government representatives.”

This morning, the letter was signed in the OTC boardroom and it will be mailed this week.

The Office of the Treaty Commissioner was pleased to host 15 wisdom holders from Reconciliation Circles across the Treaty Territories to discuss next steps for Truth and Reconciliation work in Saskatchewan.

“It was great. They are a group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people who care a lot about reconciliation in their communities. It’s cool to see them come together and make relationships with one another,” said Rhett Sangster, the OTC director reconciliation and community partnerships.

“They come together and talk about ways of doing things and put it into practice.”

This was the fourth time the group gathered.

This gathering is part of the work of the OTC in creating an advisory group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous wisdom holders and knowledge keepers to continue to move Truth and Reconciliation work forward in a good way.

The Reconciliation Circles are committed to Truth and Reconciliation through Treaty Implementation, which includes understanding our shared history on these lands, ensuring systems that benefit us all, and strengthening authentic relationships.

Members of the Office of the Treaty Commissioner team got to see behind the scenes at the Western Development Museum (WDM) as a new Treaty Timeline is being prepared for display.

The massive timeline allows people to walk through Treaty history. From Pre-contact through the early and numbered Treaties to today, people can follow the journey as it flows from one date to another.

It comes as part of the memorandum of understanding between the OTC and WDM.

“We use the expertise of the WDM team in terms of museum displays in combination with our knowledge of Treaty history,” said Sheldon Krasowski, OTC director of research and archives.

Once finalized this version will be available on display at the WDM, and the OTC will have a display to take to events.

Early Saturday morning marks the beginning of the Winter Solstice, the shortest day and the longest night of the year. It marks the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

It’s a tradition that goes back centuries, with many First Nations taking the time of year to celebrate with ceremony and community gatherings. There is an event being hosted in Regina on Saturday by the Buffalo People Arts Institute, with a pipe ceremony, talking circle, and feast.

The solstice marks the beginning of the season for reflection and the telling of stories.

“When I think about the winter solstice in this time of year that we call December, that others may call snow moon, frost moon, it’s really important to acknowledge those start stories,” said Joely BigEagle-Kequahtooway from the Buffalo People Arts Institute in a video she created with the Royal Saskatchewan Museum about what the Winter Solstice means for her.

“For me it’s important for us to gather because it’s a time when it’s cold outside. It’s a time for meditation, reflection, the time for family, for extended family, for ceremonies, dances, feasts, and giveaways.”

Learn more about the Winter Solstice by watching these videos
A look at the importance of the winter solstice
The Importance of Winter Solstice in Indigenous Culture
What the winter solstice means in the Cree tradition | Ask an Elder

And these articles
CBC Unreserved: How solstice is helping some Indigenous people reconnect to their land, families and traditions
NDN Collective: Acknowledging the Winter Solstice is a Decolonial Act for Indigenous People
Winter Solstice and what it means to Indigenous peoples

Every Dec. 10 Human Rights Day is observed to commemorate the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

This document enshrines the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being – regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

The FSIN Chiefs-in-Assembly have tasked the Treaty Governance Office to advocate for the protection and enforcement of Treaty rights and responsibilities, and to advance knowledge of and engagement with Canada’s implementation of UNDRIP.

While imperfect, the Treaty Governance Office believes that Canada’s UNDRIP Act and Action Plan are useful tools that First Nations can use to further the recognition of their rights. By hosting both virtual information and community-based engagement sessions, the Treaty Governance Office amplifies the voices of First Nations and ensures that First Nations can make informed decisions regarding how they approach the protection and enforcement of their individual and collective rights

Protecting and creating common understanding on the inherent and Treaty rights of First Nations remains at the forefront of everything we do. The work is guided by our Treaty Elders and includes education and engagement on the implications and implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which sets out the minimum standards for the survival, dignity, wellbeing and rights of Indigenous peoples around the world.

OTC and FSIN Treaty Governance Office

The Senator Jenny Spyglass Outdoor Arena was officially celebrated with a ribbon-cutting this week in North Battleford.

The Treaty Commissioner of Saskatchewan, Dr. Kathy Walker was pleased to be able to attend the event honouring Spyglass and her contributions to community.

While I have personally not known Senator Jenny Spyglass for very long, she has been a valuable member of the Office of the Treaty Commissioner kihtehayak Council since the fall of 2022. In that short time, Senator Spyglass’ contributions to the OTC and our kihtehayah Council show someone who exemplifies what it means to be a residential school thriver.

In 2019, Senator Spyglass made history as the first woman appointed to the Battlefords Agency Tribal Council and Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Senate. She is the former chief, and a long-time councillor of Mosquito Grizzly Bear’s Head Lean Man First Nation. She is also a Pow Wow dancer.

Spyglass retained her nehiyawewin language, and while she is incredibly eloquent in both Cree and English, she has said she regrets not speaking Assiniboine fluently as well.

As a residential school thriver, she has used the loss and pain she experienced as fuel to motivate her to help others and ensure no other child or person has to go through what she went through. She truly embodies the idea that Every Child Matters and teaches others to do the same.

She is a force at all of our Elders councils and OTC meetings. She is famous for standing up to a group who wanted to prevent the sharing of First Nations Treaty teachings.

In that situation, Elder Spyglass explained that as result of residential school, she had to re-learn Treaty teachings and was grateful that resources were available to her to learn and that Elders shared their knowledge. She stated in no uncertain terms that these teachings would continue. Her point was made so eloquently that no other Elder felt the need to speak on the matter.

I hear also that Elder Spyglass also has the distinction on the Elders Council of always being the best dressed kihtehayah at our councils, and in fact is usually the best dressed person in any room.

The Senator Jenny Spyglass Outdoor Arena is the perfect name for a space that will help children, youth and the community thrive in athletics; in recreation; and grow and learn together.

In honouring Senator Spyglass with the naming of this space, I feel her life and contributions honour us all and I look forward to working with and learning from Senator Sypglass and watching this honour continue to grow.

Read more about the opening: Ribbon cutting officially opens the Senator Jenny Spyglass Outdoor Arena

Created over the past year, the Crown and Indigenous Peoples Series features three episodes covering Treaty, Residential Schools, and Truth and Reconciliation.

The videos aim to introduce each topic and encourage questions, dialogue, and further exploration.

The series includes interviews with former Treaty Commissioner of Saskatchewan Mary Musqua-Culbertson and OTC speakers bureau member and Traditional Knowledge Keeper Lyndon J. Linklater.

Learn more about the Crown and Indigenous Peoples Series

Watch them:
Treaty
Residential School
Truth and Reconciliation

The content of this documentary series may be disturbing to some viewers as it explores the impacts of Residential Schools in Canada.

If you need help, there are services available, including: the federal Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program, and the National Indian Residential School Crisis Line which provides support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – 1-866-925-4419.