Fort Qu'Appelle, Sask., gathering celebrates 150th anniversary of Treaty 4

Lorna Standingready feels honoured to be celebrating 150 years of Treaty 4.

Sunday marks 150 years since the Sept. 15, 1874, signing of the treatybetweenthe Cree, Assiniboineand Saulteauxpeoples and the Crown, involvingabout 195,000 square kilometres of territory that includes most of present day southern Saskatchewan and a western segment of Manitoba.

Standingreadysays the anniversarytakes her back, making her feel almost as if she was there when her great grandfather, Ka-Na-Hah-Cha-Pay-O, helped negotiate and sign Treaty 4.

"I feel honoured just to mention his name and to be here as a treaty person, and we're all treaty people because we signed to live in a good way, to honour the treaties," Standingready said Thursday while attending a week-long gathering to celebrate the anniversary at Fort Qu'Appelle, Sask.

The anniversary of the Treaty 4 signing hasbeen recognized in annualgatheringsin the Qu'Appelle Valley for the last 30 years.

The gathering sees an average of more than 20,000 participants, according to the event's website, which says it's meant to connect and educate people, while also ensuring the "spirit and intent of Treaty 4 continues."

Elders discuss what the next 150 years bring at Treaty 4 gathering in Sask.

8 days ago

Duration 2:17

Elders at the Treaty 4 Gathering in Fort Qu'Appelle, Sask., on Thursday discussed how to move forward in a way that benefits future generations. The gathering is commemorating 150 years since Treaty 4 was signed.

The gathering includes events for youth to speak about climate action, an elders' forum, dances, fastball tournaments and daily pipe ceremonies.

The event shows "the times are changing," said Standingready, from days when "we couldn't have an Indian name. We had to hide in the bush."

That's changed, she said.

"I attended a pipe ceremony, a women's pipe ceremony today, and I've attended lots across this country, and even into Australia."

But still, there are people who "don't understand what a treaty really meansand across this land that treaties are broken," said Standingready.

"And yet the Indian survives, they persevere, they prosper not in money [they] prosper in their spiritual way. That's what brought us here so far."

Standingready was sent to three residential schools in Manitobaand was also put in a foster home growing up, butsaid she'sa "strong one," and has never forgotten how she was raised.

"I was brought up to look, I was brought up to listen, and I was brought up to learn," shesaid.

"I can learn from just looking, you knowhaving a glimpse into your being, into your spirit, by your eyes."

As she marks the 150th anniversary of Treaty 4, Standingready said she hopes all treaty promisesare fulfilled in the next 150 years.

"We must continue on fighting for our treaty rights and our education," she said. "We have to bring that forward. That's why we're strong people."

Youth integralfor treaties: Chief

On Sunday,Zagime AnishinabekChief Lynn Acoosespoke about the youth and the next generation's role in upholding the treaties.

Acoose said with the public eye on the event, people will be able to see how everyone came together to honour the treaty.

She also hopes it grabs the attention of non-Indigenous people.

"It may spur, you know, the willingness to learn more and to develop deeper relationships with First Nations people," said Acooseat the gathering in Fort Qu'Appelle.

She also touched on the important role of the youthand how they understandthe treaties, but also the pre-existing treatiesthat Indigenous people havewith the buffalo, sweetgrassand medicines.

"I see the youth today as really the warriors for creation.I see youth standing up for the land, the waters, everything in creation;they know how important it is."

Looking at the significance of 150 years of treaty, Acoose said she's heard from many citizens and elders about what it means to them.

"Many of the elders and citizens say ourpeople are living in povertyin a rich country, and thatthe promise of treaty is that we would all benefit from the bounty of the land under treaty We're not seeing that. And so the citizens and the elders and the leadership are all saying that we need to come together, [and] we need to talk to our partners under treaty to form a more equitable relationship."