The Stoney Nation in Alberta and Simpcw First Nation in B.C. came together in Jasper National Park over the weekend to reawaken their historic harvesting agreement of 1895 and to assert their connection—since time immemorial—to that territory. A pipe ceremony took place before the harvesting of foods, with the nations’ hunters gathering three elk, one white-tailed deer and one bighorn sheep.
For many years the nations have been on a journey of reconnection to their treaty. In the recent past, they have been allowed in the park to harvest medicines and do healing work, but not to harvest food. Not until Oct. 28 and Oct. 29.
Windspeaker Radio Network spoke with Simpcw First Nation Chief George Lampreau and Chiniki First Nation Chief Aaron Young on the historic moment for both nations.
Chiniki First Nation Chief Aaron Young (Left) and Simpcw First Nation Chief George Lampreau sitting together in Jasper for Treaty reawakening
Chief Lampreau talks about how the events that lead to the gathering in Jasper, saying that their is more that was needed to be done, which sparked the idea to meet with Stoney in Jasper to reawaken the Treaty.
Parks Canada worker learning how to craft with Stoney Elder in Jasper
Chiniki First Nation Chief Aaron Young calls the event a rekindling of what was already there, saying that it’s about time the gathering took place as a way of reminding the younger generations that it has always been their for a place to harvest since time and memorial.
Alan Fehr, Superintendent for Jasper National Park spoke with CJWE Radio about the importance of Canadians to learn about the connections that Indigenous peoples have to the land both culturally and historically, and moving forward to a better Canada following the historic gathering in Jasper.
Members of the Simpcw First Nation and the Stoney Nation came together with Parks Canada and local RCMP to reawaken a treaty between the two nations, whose traditional territories overlap in the Rocky Mountains
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