Gathering of First Nations Elders and Representatives from across Treaties 1 to 11

Gathering of hundreds of Elders, Knowledge Keepers, Leaders, and First Nations Representatives from Treaties 1 through 11, which span all across Canada, gathered on the Tsuut’ina Nation at the Grey Eagle Events Centre. Photo by William L. Baliko

We are all treaty peoples.

On August 18 to 22, 2025, hundreds of Elders, Knowledge Keepers, Leaders, and First Nations Representatives from Treaties 1 through 11, which span all across Canada, gathered on Tsuut’ina Nation at the Grey Eagle Events Centre.

This grand summit discussed major topics ranging from citizenship and nationhood to governance and fiscal responsibility.

Margo Auger, an organizer of the gathering and representative from Big Stone Cree Nation of Treaty 8, shares how treaties are not a part of history, but rather a part of the present and future – a way of living together:

One way of understanding treaties between First Nations and current Canadians is a “livelihood-for-livelihood mentality”, living and walking together in the same land respectfully.