Prestigious new title for Willie Littlechild

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On a break from a workshop in Edmonton on Nov. 26, the Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations took time to bestow an esteemed honor on Willie Littlechild of Hobbema. He is now the international chief of Treaty 6.

Littlechild, wearing a chief's bonnet that had just been placed on his head by Elder Peter Waskahat, addressed the crowd with promises to make treaty rights issues the most important issues in Geneva on Dec. 15 to 17. He and a delegation of six chiefs from the treaty area will travel to Geneva to take part in an expert seminar on treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements between states and Indigenous peoples.

Littlechild said that about five years ago, when the treaty study conducted by Miguel Alphonso Martinez of Cuba was tabled at the United Nations, there was a mechanism for follow-up that was never acted upon. This year, for the very first time, the United Nations will be meeting to discuss treaties and other arrangements between states and Indigenous peoples. He said that he is looking forward to that meeting, because it has been a long time coming.

"I now, officially, can take the floor at the United Nations to address our treaty issues and I can now speak with authority with the support of the chiefs. Leaders from the Indigenous people who have treaty agreements will be there," he said.

Eric Tootoosis, the facilitator of the workshop, said as international chief Littlechild's roles will include acting as ambassador, spokesperson and Indigenous representative speaking for all Indigenous people in the world.

"Well, it is a very significant event and I believe that it is an event that is long overdue," Tootoosis said about bestowing the honor on Littlechild. "He is the international chief on behalf of Indigenous treaties and all Indigenous people. I'm really happy that Chief [Francis] Alexis [of the Alexis First Nation] made this recommendation. It's been something that has been on our minds for many years and having worked with him for many years, we really appreciate how the other chiefs honored him here this evening. There were other Indigenous groups that were given unique titles in the Eastern tribes and also in America, but this is the first time we've had anyone who's served in this capacity from Treaty 6."

Tootoosis said that although the United Nations is limited in what it can do, it's managed to help Canada's Indigenous people.

"We want to see that our treaties are maintained and not ever dissolved and we are grateful that they've spoken up for us and intervened on behalf of our policies and legislations so that we do not get over-ridden by domestic policies; so that we do not get all our treaty rights and agreements totally stripped away from us. And the role they've played in our situation has significantly prevented that from happening within Canada," he said.

"This workshop is looking at treaty agreements, 2003 and beyond, as in looking at the next seven generations into the future. I believe that what we implement now is going to benefit the First Nations people for the next 60 years. We were able to revisit the treaty processes and what it means as to us as an international instrument, and what it should mean to the Canadian government and to the province. It all boils down to us reaffirming the continuance of our Indigenous ways. This representation in Geneva should indicate to the government how we as a group live today and that we should be the same level to share equal benefits of the treaties," Eric Tootoosis said.

Ron Lameman, the bilateral co-chair of the Confederacy of Treaty 6, said the treaty organization became involved in political matters on the international scene after a visit from Miguel Alphonso Martinez in 1988. Lameman said that Marinez asked them if he could hold a meeting in Treaty 6 territory to conduct a study he was doing for United Nations on Indigenous treaties. Treaties 7 and 8 were also invited to participate.

"He held the fist meeting in Treaty 6 territory at Onion Lake First Nation [Saskatchewan]. The Elders also took part in the meeting. They prayed for Mr. Martinez and held sacred steps ceremonies in his honor. They also provided him with wisdom and information to launch the treaty study that took him a number of years to complete. This is how the Confederacy of Treaty 6 began," he said.