By Geoff Smith

Treaty Day in the Battlefords to include five-dollar payments

May 3, 2016 | 6:00 AM

“Her Majesty’s Commissioners shall… pay to each Indian person the sum of $5 per head yearly.”

Those words are contained in Treaty 6, which involved much of central Saskatchewan and Alberta during the decline in buffalo numbers in 1876. That five dollar payment will be handed out Wednesday, May 4 as part of an Urban Treaty Day celebration organized by the Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs (BATC).

“The Crown, back in 1876, signed treaties with our Indian people back then, and they promised several things to us then. Part of that was the Treaty Day,” explained BATC finance controller Elaine Nancy Moosomin, who is organizing the event.

“That was supposed to be for as long as the sun shines, the grass grows, and the rivers flow.” she said, adding the amount is symbolic today.

“Because from my understanding of the treaties, we were promised several things… the health, education, housing, all those issues that we were promised back then to sign this treaty between the two parties,” she said.

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Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada asked the chiefs to host this year’s event. In previous years an event was held at Fort Battleford. Moosomin is encouraging everyone to take part in Treaty Day to learn the significance of the treaties.

“(This is) so that they understand where we come from as Aboriginals. You’re coming here to our land in our community and we’re sharing this land with you,” Moosomin said.

An estimated 750 to 1,000 people are expected at the Dekker Centre. Payment distribution will begin at 9:30 a.m. with an opening ceremony at 11. Entertainment is scheduled between 11:30 a.m. And 2 p.m. and a barbecue is also planned. Children’s activities will take place at the NationsWEST Fieldhouse.

The event will also include information booths on a number of BATC services.

gsmith@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @smithco