A ceremony was held Thursday by province in which four new highway signs were unveiled. (Submitted photo/Ministry of Highways)

By Derek Cornet

reconciliation

New highway sign to be erected near La Ronge marking Treaty 6, 10 boundary

Oct 19, 2023 | 5:00 PM

A new sign will be erected at Highway 2/102 near La Ronge to mark the Treaty 6-Treaty 10 boundary.

That’s according to a media release issued by the provincial government on Thursday. It states a ceremony was held today as the Government of Saskatchewan and the Office of the Treaty Commissioner unveiled a series of new highway signs to be placed in the Estevan, Moosomin, Lanigan and La Ronge areas to highlight more Treaty boundaries across the province.

“I appreciate the ongoing collaboration of the Office of the Treaty Commissioner and the Government of Saskatchewan in providing prominent highway signs that help bring attention to the importance of the Treaties,” said Lt. Governor Russ Mirasty.

Each of the new signs will incorporate Indigenous languages specific to their locations, the phrase “as long as the sun shines, grass grows, and rivers flow,” as well as a photo of the treaty medals provided to First Nations following negotiations.

These new signs will join two others installed last year marking the Treaty 4-Treaty 6 boundary along Highway 11 between Saskatoon and Regina. Two of the signs announced this week will be installed along the Trans-Canada Highway with the third going up along Highway 39.

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“These provincial highway signs are symbols of our government’s continuing reconciliation journey and ongoing work to support Treaty education initiatives in Saskatchewan,” said Don McMorris, Minister Responsible for First Nations, Métis and Northern Affairs.

“We are proud to continue to work in partnership with the Office of the Treaty Commissioner on our ongoing path of reconciliation.”

It’s unknown where exactly the sign near La Ronge will be located, but it will be in a spot where approximately 1,000 people travel by daily. The signs will be installed in the future, as early as this fall, depending on the weather, current highway operations, and an appropriate Indigenous ceremony occurring in advance as guided by Elders working with the Office of the Treaty Commissioner.

“Thousands of daily commuters and tourists will see these signs on their driving routes, which can help start and continue important conversations about Treaties in Saskatchewan,” Highways Minister Lori Carr said.

On the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30, two new signs where Highway 2 crosses the Montreal River were erected. The bridge in Air Ronge is now called Reconciliation Bridge.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com