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Symposium stresses treaty education

Mary Culbertson and other speakers emphasized the importance of treaty knowledge and awareness at St. Mary’s Cultural Centre on Mar. 9, hoping to pass the message on to the next generation.
Treaty
Treaty Commissioner Mary Culbertson received a blanket at the Yorkton Tribal Council’s Treaty Symposium on Friday.

Mary Culbertson and other speakers emphasized the importance of treaty knowledge and awareness at St. Mary’s Cultural Centre on Mar. 9, hoping to pass the message on to the next generation.

The Yorkton Tribal Council hosted a Treaty Symposium on Friday of last week. The event highlighted the need for an open discussion about Canada’s treaty history and possible future. The day-long event was open to the public, along with several school classes.

“We’ve got to understand our treaties,” said Danny Whitehawk, who acted as the Master of Ceremonies for the symposium.

An elder started the event with a prayer before tribal chief Isabel O’Soup made some opening remarks.

“We’re modern treaty people,” she said. “Treaty then, treaty now.”

O’Soup underscored the value of preserving Indigenous culture and language while also praising the hard work of women in her life.

“We all know women are the backbone of our community,” she said.

O’Soup introduced Mary Culbertson, a speaker for the event. Culbertson was appointed as the Treaty Commissioner for Saskatchewan in January. She is the first woman to achieve the position. She will serve a term of three years.

“Please help me with this big role I have,” she said to the crowd.

O’Soup congratulated Culbertson on her appointment and she presented the commissioner with a blanket.

Culbertson, a member of the Keeseekoose First Nation, conducted a lengthy speech on her new job and the issues facing Indigenous people today. She mentioned talking with Colten Boushie’s family before the Gerald Stanley trial.

She became visibly upset as she talked about the family’s struggles.

“I’m not usually emotional,” she said. “I know I’m supposed to be neutral, but it’s hard to do.”

Culbertson served as a lawyer after receiving a degree from the University of Saskatchewan. She has interacted with various Indigenous organizations and all levels of government. As commissioner, she promised the
audience she won’t sugarcoat the realities Indigenous groups face.

“I’m going to tell the truth and if that hurts some Canadians, I’ll hand them a tissue,” she said. “Confront things head-on with words, not violence.

“I can’t be loyal to Canada if I’m not telling the truth.”

Culbertson told the gathered crowd to start education about treaties and reformation in the home.

“Where do kids learn from?” she said. “They learn from us.

“If we aren’t teaching our kids about treaties, no one is.”

Culbertson stressed the need for unity in the Indigenous community while underscoring the value of reaching out for reconciliation.

“We need allies,” she said. “We can’t give up hope.

“We can’t be divided.”

Eric Tootosis, another speaker at the symposium, educated the audience about treaty history. He also emphasized the usefulness of working together.

“We’re partners,” he said. “If you’re silent, you’re just as guilty as the politicians.”

Tootosis walked the audience through the original Indian Act and how it informs their rights and interactions with the government today.

“Canada does not have the right to interfer with our inherent rights,” he said.

In an emotional speech, Tootosis drew attention to the massive loss of life experienced by Indigenous people during the European expansion into North America during the 1800s. Tootosis hammered home the point that millions of

Indigenous people have died over the past 150 years, greatly reducing their population.

“Some tribes no longer exist,” he said. “[They were] wiped out.

“What happened to our ancestors?”

Tootosis encouraged the young members of the audience to remain vigilant of their rights and to be vocal of any infringements by the government.

“[We are] the original people of North America,” he said. “Rise.”

After her speech, Culbertson fielded questions from the audience. Topics ranged from hunting rights to treaty history to dealing with the government.

“It’s hard to get the government at the table,” she said.

Culbertson’s speech didn’t shy away from the size of her task, but she focused on the power of unity to overcome obstacles.

“We have a lot of work to do,” she said. “Let’s start moving forward together.”