September 15, 1874, a critical moment in Canadian history.
137 years later, the Treaty 4 gathering in Fort Qu’Appelle honors that monumental day.
“This land was the first article (of the treaty),” said Perry Bellegarde, Chief of the Little Black Bear First Nation in Saskatchewan.
‘It’s very significant and very important that indigenous peoples, the First Nations people, keep coming back to this land.”
In the second day of the week long event youth, both of First Nation descent and not, got the opportunity to learn more about the First Nations culture.
“This is the kind of environment everyone used to learn in,” said Holly Yuzicapi, youth coordinator for Treaty 4.
“A camp, just like this.”
Tuesday kids learned how to make cultural meals like bannock. A different station had kids making delicate beading, another tradition.
Organizers worked to find creative and new ways to interest today’s youth in the past.
“We have a game show that’s Treaty 4 trivia,” said Yuzicapi.
“Some interactive challenges for the kids.”
The gathering continues the rest of this week, with youth education activities running until Thursday.
Festivities wrap this weekend with a pow-wow Saturday and Sunday.
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