Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

TETLIT' ZHEH/FORT MCPHERSON - To commemorate the 90th anniversary of the signing of Treaty 11 – the first treaty between Mackenzie Delta First Nations and the Canadian government – more than 300 people gathered in Fort McPherson last week for a day of traditional activities and food.

Members of the Fort McPherson RCMP were gave out treaty money to the tune of $5 per resident. When Treaty 11 was first signed in 1921, it was agreed that everyone would receive $12 per year. Later the amount was changed, but to this day residents still line up every year to receive their share. - Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison/NNSL photo

Diane Koe, band councillor and master of ceremonies at the gathering, said the event was organized to celebrate the Gwich'in people's past.

"The community has suffered and we can turn all that sadness into a happy event," she said. "We should honour these 90 years because our Chief Julius (who signed the treaty in 1921) was a kind-hearted gentleman. He was honourable, well-respected. We wanted to honour that."

The festivities began last Tuesday at 1 p.m. with a re-enactment of the signing of the treaty.

Chief William Koe, along with Tetlit Gwich'in band councillors, a representative of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada and two RCMP officers walked to Hannah's Field, dressed in traditional clothing, to cheers and claps from the crowd waiting for them.

The rest of the afternoon was filled with traditional activities, which Diane Koe said they organized after long talks with elders about their childhoods and life after Treaty 11.

Tea, bannock and doughnuts were made for hours under the cover of smokehouses; locals demonstrated paddle making and fishnet backing; two groups competed in a tug-of-war; antiques were displayed in a tent with brush-covered floors; and, in the evening, the men served the women a feast of fish, caribou and bannock.

An old-time dance followed at the community complex and lasted until midnight.

Diane Koe said the positive response from those who came from Aklavik, Tsiigehtchic, Inuvik and Fort McPherson to attend the event proves the months of planning that went into it were worth it, even more so after the Truth and Reconciliation was held in Inuvik June 28 to July 1.

"The TRC, it really only brought out the hurt and, you could say, anger, I guess. But our focus was on that we had an honourable chief that signed a treaty for our people. We wanted to honour him and make it a happy event," she said. "You see, it was a long time coming you might as well say."

She said the event was, in essence, a way of celebrating what the Gwich'in people have today.

Chief William Koe said it was also to acknowledge the power the treaty still holds.

"Treaty 11 recognized our people as the identity of who they were," he said, adding that it also helped form the basis for the Gwich’in Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement signed in 1992.

According to information from the Gwich'in Social and Cultural institute, the signing of Treaty 11 in 1921 in Fort McPherson began with the discovery of oil in Norman Wells in 1920.

The Canadian government, fearing a development boom in a region they had no control over, decided to send a group in, with a pre-written treaty, to seek an agreement.

Treaty commissioner Henry Conroy was told not to negotiate any of the terms.

They landed in Tsiigehtchic July 26, 1921 and left the same day with signatures. They arrived in Fort McPherson two days later and Chief Julius Salu, along with other representatives, signed the treaty.

The Gwich'in believed it was a friendship treaty promising education and the continuation of their traditional way of life. The Canadian government saw it as an agreement to hand over control of their land.

Treaty 11 was signed July 28, 1921 in Fort McPherson. The anniversary event was held July 19 so it didn't interfere with the Midway Music Festival, which is scheduled to start July 29.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.