This Treaty 6 flag is located at the Lac La Ronge Indian Band's main office. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

acknowledgement

La Ronge council approves flying Treaty 6 flag on municipal pole

Jun 24, 2021 | 1:26 PM

The Treaty 6 flag will soon fly proudly in La Ronge after council approved a request to raise it.

In a letter sent to council and others by Samuel Hardlotte and Hope Fietz Hardlotte, it was requested the town, along with Air Ronge, Kikinahk Friendship Centre and Northlands College, fly the Treaty 6 flag. It notes those municipalities and organizations are situated on Treaty 6 territory, the Homeland of the Woodland Cree.

“In this community we now call La Ronge, a residential school was built and many children were forced to attend this school, therefore, the families of these children, wanting to be close to their children began moving into and settling in and around La Ronge,” the letter states. “As you are aware, our ancestors signed the adhesion to Treaty 6 at the north end of Montreal Lake on February 11, 1889. Flying the Treaty 6 Flag, here in Northern Saskatchewan, is an acknowledgement that you are on Treaty 6 territory.”

The request, which was first proposed to council in 2014, was swiftly approved and Mayor Colin Ratushniak said he would like to have a new flagpole installed and have the Treaty 6 flag raised by the end of summer. He was surprised the request dated was so far back and it had taken so long for there to be a push to make it happen.

“I’m super proud of council’s will last night to make that happen finally,” Ratushniak said, adding the exact location of the new pole is yet to be decided. “There’s going to be another flagpole erected to make sure we are following our strategic plan, which is to follow for truth and reconciliation with our Indigenous tri-community.”

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The current La Ronge council have already taken some steps to improve the town’s relationship with its Indigenous residents. For instance, a Treaty 6 acknowledgement is now done at every meeting and there are plans for council to undergo truth and reconciliation training.

Ratushniak mentioned it’s important for council to acknowledge the town is on Treaty 6 territory because many people are benefitting from Indigenous lands or through dealings with First Nations people.

“We truly just need to recognize and be grateful for what the Indigenous lands have provided for everyone within our region,” he said. “ A small act of us acknowledging that at the beginning of our town meetings is extremely important and I am happy council also saw that as well.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno