Treaty 6 leaders heading to London for private audience with King Charles III

Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation invited the head of the British Crown to attend the 150th Commemoration of Treaty 6 at Fort Carlton this August. Now, it appears the offer has been reciprocated.

A delegation of seven Treaty 6 leaders is travelling to London to meet with His Majesty King Charles III at Buckingham Palace on March 11.

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“Ahtahkakoop took the lead on inviting the head of the British Crown to reaffirm the continued relationship between Treaty 6 First Nations and the Crown for as long as the sun shines, the grass grows, and the rivers flow,” said Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation Chief Larry Ahenakew, who is part of the delegation.

“The aim of the delegation is to contribute to honouring Treaty 6 and the Treaties 1-11 bundle,” said Chief Daryl Watson of Mistawasis Nēhiyawak.

“As a delegation, we do not seek to speak for all of Treaty 6, because each nation exercises its own sovereign, self-determining authority and voice.”

The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) and the Office of the Treaty Commissioner have assisted in advocating for a royal visit to Fort Carlton this year. During next week’s visit in London, delegates plan to extend an in-person invitation to the King.

As part of the 150th commemoration, Chief Edwin Ananas of Beardy’s & Okemasis Cree Nation is planning to bring original treaty parchments back to historic sites in Treaty 6 territory.

The parchments were official, portable records representing the foundational agreements between the Crown and First Nations between 1871 and 1906. The Treaty 6 document will stop at signing sites including Beardy’s Camp, Fort Pitt, and Enoch Cree Nation in Alberta.

“While the treaty texts do not tell the complete story of what was agreed to under Treaty 6, they are a key part of our history and my hope is that the visiting Treaty 6 exhibits will provide much needed Treaty education and awareness that will provide a strong foundation for realizing treaty over the next 150 years,” said Chief Ananas.

Chief Christine Longjohn of Sturgeon Lake First Nation plans on gifting the King with baby moccasins “to represent that care for our children and future generations must be at the centre of our governance and decision-making.”

The Delegation of Treaty 6 Leadership will consist of:

• Chief Larry Ahenakew (Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation)

• Chief Darryl Watson (Mistawasis Nêhiyawak)

• Chief Edwin Ananas (Beardy’s & Okemasis Cree Nation)

• Chief Christine Longjohn (Sturgeon Lake First Nation)

• Councillor Gary LaPlante (Stoney Knoll First Nation)

• Grand Council Chief Joey Pete (Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations)

• Chief Desmond Bull (Louis Bull Tribe)

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