by Glenn Taylor
Northern News Services

INUVIK (May 02/97) - In 1921, the Canadian government signed Treaty 11 with the Gwich'in Nation. Seventy-six years later, that treaty is being honored in the form of brand new $5 bills.

Treaty Days is an annual event marking the signing of treaties in Canada between the Queen's representatives and aboriginal people. Last week, representatives of the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development came to Inuvik to host the event.

Susan Purcka and Mary Carr from Yellowknife were at the Alex Moses-Greenland building presenting treaty Indians with brand new $5 bills, "a gesture of friendship between the band and the Queen," said Carr. It was, she said, a symbol of friendship "that always will be."

In four hours last Thursday, Carr and Purcka gave out $1,500 worth of new fivers to 300 people. RCMP Const. Andrew Minor was also on hand to present the money.

Treaty Days used to be a big occasion, said Carr. Not only did agents of the Queen show up, but doctors, the RCMP and numerous government people also came along. It was a time not just to mark treaties, but to check dental work, inspect a sore tummy of a child or to fill out bureaucratic forms. A large contingent tagged along and looked after a number of needs in those days, said Carr.

Not much has changed since those early days. One big change is that the federal government no longer hands out fishing nets and other goods that were once handed out at Treaty Days. It was decided some years ago that bands should be given the money for those goods directly, so they can decide what to buy for themselves.

Carr has noticed another change about Treaty Days. When she first came to Inuvik three years ago, she noticed that youth weren't very interested in the tradition. Elders "treat it as an important tradition," but youth did not, she said. That's changing now, however, and she said many more youth are coming out to mark the symbolic occasion.

"When we first started, the younger generation didn't see the value in it. But people have been talking amongst themselves, and there's a different attitude towards it now," said Carr.

But why the brand new dollar bills? "It's just part of the tradition ... people expect it," said Carr.