Several Treaty 6 chiefs will be meeting with King Charles III in the lead up to the 150th commemoration of the signing of the Treaty 6 document and will extend an invitation for a royal visit.
In 1876, First Nations and the Crown entered into Treaty 6 with gatherings at Fort Carlton (Aug 23), Chief Kamiscowesit’s (Beardy’s) Campsite (Aug 28), and Fort Pitt, near Lloydminster (Sept 9).
London bound
Treaty 6 leaders will travel to London for a private audience with King Charles III on March 11, at Buckingham Palace. The seven-member delegation was invited following earlier outreach from Treaty 6 leadership, who have asked the King to attend the 150th Commemoration of Treaty 6 at Fort Carlton this August.
Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation Chief Larry Ahenakew, part of the delegation, said his nation initiated the invitation to reaffirm the longstanding Treaty relationship between Treaty 6 First Nations and the Crown. The leaders have continued advocating for a royal visit with support from the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) and the Office of the Treaty Commissioner.
Chief Daryl Watson of Mistawasis Nêhiyawak said the group’s goal is to help honour Treaty 6 and the broader Treaties 1 through 11. He emphasized that while the delegation is united in purpose, each First Nation maintains its own distinct voice and sovereignty.
Invitation for King Charles
During their meeting, the delegates plan to formally invite the King to attend the Sesquicentennial commemoration at Fort Carlton. Beardy’s & Okemasis Cree Nation Chief Edwin Ananas has also been leading efforts to bring the original Treaty 6 parchment back to the territory for the first time in 150 years. The historic document is expected to travel to several signing sites, including Beardy’s Camp, Fort Pitt, and Enoch Cree Nation in Alberta.
Treaty 6 document
Chief Ananas said the Treaty texts, while incomplete in capturing the full agreements made, remain crucial to understanding the history of Treaty 6. He hopes the exhibits accompanying the document’s return will strengthen Treaty education and awareness for generations to come.
For Chief Christine Longjohn of Sturgeon Lake First Nation, the visit is an opportunity to emphasize that the Treaties are commitments to future generations. She plans to present the King with a pair of baby moccasins as a symbol of the responsibility to centre children in governance and decision-making.
Support for royal visit
A proposed royal visit to mark the 150th anniversary of Treaty 6 on August 23 has been endorsed through resolutions by Chiefs-in-Assembly at both FSIN and the Assembly of First Nations. FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron said the resolutions underscore the importance of Treaty and the collective responsibility to uphold its spirit and intent, guided by Elders.
The delegation includes leaders from across Treaty 6 territory:
- Chief Larry Ahenakew – Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation
- Chief Darryl Watson – Mistawasis Nêhiyawak
- Chief Edwin Ananas – Beardy’s & Okemasis Cree Nation
- Chief Christine Longjohn – Sturgeon Lake First Nation
- Councillor Gary LaPlante – Stoney Knoll First Nation
- Grand Council Chief Joey Pete – Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations
- Chief Desmond Bull – Louis Bull Tribe
The Treaty 6 delegation is scheduled to depart from Saskatoon International Airport on March 9.
