Meals, songs, surprise draws and fireworks drew around 900 people to the Treaty Day celebrations in Calling Lake Aug. 16.
The day of events included a parade, a sack race, a nail pounding contest, a pancake breakfast, lunch, bingo, dinner and a talent show.
Victoria Hicks helped organize the events through the day in Calling Lake, even driving a float in the parade.
“It’s important for all the community,” she said, speaking after the dinner at the Calling Lake Recreation Complex. “It’s important for us to get together like this on a happy occasion ... This is something to enlighten us, to make us have more pride in our community.”
Hicks pointed out that this was the first Treaty Day where the Bigstone Cree Nation and the Municipal District of Opportunity partnered.
“This year, something special happened now,” she said. “Now, they’re partnering up with everything. That’s why it’s bigger. That’s why it’s better.”
Fireworks at the Treaty Day celebration in Calling Lake were made possible in part due to collaboration between Bigstone Cree Nation and the Municipal District of Opportunity.
She also said they had never had fireworks at Treaty Day celebrations in Calling Lake before, but the partnership made it possible.
“And look at how many people come to support us,” she said, adding that the weather was unpredictable and rained on them throughout the day.
“Everyone was drenched, but we did it,” she added.
The Calling Lake celebration was just one of Bigstone’s Treaty Day events around the nation last week, which included stops in Wabasca and Chipewyan Lake.
Hicks pointed out that people from Wabasca came and helped out with the event in Calling Lake, cooking hot dogs for lunch and helping set up the tents.
Alfred Beaver (left) plays the harmonica during the talent show, which ran as a part of Calling Lake’s Treaty Day celebrations.
“Helping any way they could,” she said. “Wabasca went everywhere. This was their final stop.”
Hicks noted that her mother Joanne Hicks and Loretta Gladue fought to make the day as big as it was.
She did note that she would like to see even more people from the community step up.
“I just want more participation,” she said. “Maybe people that don’t know what our community can do and have negative stereotype against us. Come see what we actually are. Come see how happy we are, and this event is so awesome.
“This community is so welcoming,” she also said. “We have a good heart.”
Ingrid and Dale Law tried to teach line dancing to Jersey Johnson and Mekwan Duperron.
Treaty Day history
According to the Canadian Encyclopedia, Treaty Day commemorates the day that certain treaties were signed by the Government of Canada and Indigenous peoples.
Treaty Day is also a celebration of the historic relationship between Indigenous peoples and the federal government, and it promotes public awareness about Indigenous culture, history and heritage.
Bigstone Cree Nation is party to Treaty 8, which was signed June 21, 1899.
