The City of Edmonton marked the 150th anniversary of the signing of Treaty No. 6 on Monday. Several activities were planned at city hall between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m., including a traditional pipe ceremony, grand entry, and gift exchange by Grand Chief Joey Pete and Mayor Andrew Knack. “We have some elders that are probably over 100 years old and for them to witness 150 years of treaty and our newborn children to be alongside all that history at the same time is so important (for) moving forward, especially when it comes to reconciliation,” Pete told reporters afterward. Treaty No. 6 territory stretches from western Alberta to Manitoba and is home to 50 First Nations, including Cree, Ojibwe and Assiniboine peoples. The treaty was signed in parts at Fort Carlton and Fort Pitt on Aug. 23 and Aug. 28, 1876, respectively, and what is now Edmonton on Aug. 21, 1877. The treaty outlined monetary compensation to First Nations people for the land, mandated the building of schools on reserves, recognized the medicine chest, and confirmed the right of Indigenous peoples to hunt, trap and fish on reserve lands. According to the mayor, all of the civic agencies were represented at Monday’s celebration. “Why it’s so important for everyone to be here is that understanding that even though sometimes things won’t be perfect, the best way to move forward together is to make sure you continue to be in the same room,” Knack said. Since 2012, the City of Edmonton has had a formal agreement of cooperation and dialogue with the Confederacy of Treaty No. 6. It began recognizing the treaty signing anniversary the next year. Knack credited that memorandum, as well as Edmonton’s Indigenous Framework, for serving as a foundation for the city to build a better relationship with Indigenous peoples. More commemorative activities are planned throughout the week, including teachings on Tuesday and Wednesday of cultural practices like moccasin making, moose hide stretching, and drumming and singing. Fort Edmonton Park on Wednesday will host a re-enactment of the signing of Treaty No. 6. The High level Bridge will also be lit up on Sunday in honour of the treaty signing. United Conservative members of Alberta’s government did not attend the celebration at city hall, drawing criticism from Pete and others. With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Sean McClune
