The Queen helps Saskatchewan celebrate centennial

Page 1

You could say the relationship between Saskatchewan's Aboriginal peoples and Great Britain's Royal Family has been cast in stone.

During her visit to the First Nations University of Canada (FNUC) Regina campus on May 17 ,Queen Elizabeth II presented the university with a stone tablet on which her initials, as well as the initials of Queen Victoria, were carved.

The Queen presented the stone to university president Dr. Eber Hampton during her visit to the campus that Tuesday afternoon.

"This stone was taken from the grounds of Balmoral Castle, in the Highlands of Scotland, a place dear to my great-great grandmother Queen Victoria," Her Majesty said to a crowd of about 250 Elders, veterans, Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) officials, university officials and invited guests. Another crowd, estimated at about 400 people, waited outside the building in cold, blustery weather, to catch a glimpse of the monarch.

"It symbolizes the foundation of the rights of First Nations peoples reflected in the treaties signed with the Crown during her reign," the Queen said in a speech.

"Bearing the cipher of Queen Victoria as well as my own, this stone is presented to the First Nations University of Canada in the hope that it will serve as a reminder of the special relationship between the sovereign and all First Nations peoples."

The Queen and her husband, Prince Phillip, were escorted through the campus by Hampton and FSIN Grand Chief Alphonse Bird. The royal party was led into the campus' indoor courtyard by four members of the Saskatchewan First Nations Veterans Association. A drum group performed the Flag Song as the Queen took her seat.

Isadore Pelletier, the university's Elder, also said a prayer for the royal couple.

As part of her official welcome, Queen Elizabeth was presented with a pink star blanket, commissioned by the university and made by Alvina Poitras, an Elder of the Muscowepetung First Nation. Her Majesty smiled broadly as she was presented with the gift.

Prince Phillip was presented with a pair of moccasins, which were made by Candace Daniels of the Sturgeon Lake First Nation.

After the official part of the ceremony, the Queen and Prince Phillip went on a walkabout, during which four little girls from Aboriginal schools-four-year-old Kaneisha Lerat of Come 'n' Learn Regina Aboriginal Headstart, eight-year-old Morning Ironeagle of Chief Pasqua school on the Pasqua First Nation, 10-year-old Maskwa Masukapoe of Ahtahkakoop school, and seven-year-old Kaitlin Bird of Montreal Lake school-presented Her Majesty with flowers.

The Queen's visit re-emphasizes the importance of treaty rights in Canada, said Hampton. By coming to FNUC, the visit illustrates the importance of education as part of the treaty process.

"The treaty relationship between the Crown and First Nations people is the foundation for Canada," Hampton said to reporters just before the Queen entered the building.

"To have her visiting this First Nations institution on her first day in Canada is a really nice thing."

Just before the Queen arrived, Bird told reporters he wanted the royal visit to bring national and international attention to Aboriginal issues in general and the treaties in particular. More than 250 reporters from across Canada and Great Britain followed the Queen and Prince Phillip during her visit to Saskatchewan and Alberta.

First Nations are eager to show respect for the Royal Family because of the treaties, many of which were signed during Queen Victoria's reign, said Bird.

Given the opportunity, he added, he would like to 'talk treaty' with her, emphasizing that the Canadian government has in many ways failed to live up to its end of the treaties with Aboriginal peoples.

"We don't live in the same standard as the rest of society does in Canada," said Bird, "yet we gave up a hell of a lot to the treaty-making process in order to achieve peace in this country."

The visit to FUC was the first stop in the Queen's 23rd visit to Canada.