Nations commemorate proclamation anniversary at the source

Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Chief Perry Bellegarde says there was no other place to be than in London, England when the British Royal Proclamation marked its 250th anniversary.

“It was very important … because we wanted to mark that date, mark and show we still have a relationship with the Crown, but more importantly the Royal Proclamation is important to us as treaty people because that was the first time the Crown recognized our title to lands and territories.”

Bellegarde led a dozen veterans and Elders and FSIN staff to London. An eight-person delegation from Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, led by Grand Chief David Harper, also made the trip.

More than 30 First Nations chiefs, veterans, Elders and leaders, representing Indigenous peoples from Canada, took part in a pipe ceremony to recognize the relationship with the Crown in Green Park at the Canada Memorial. The four-day trip to the United Kingdom, Oct. 4 to Oct. 8, also included a pipe ceremony and wreath-laying at the Great War Memorial and Guards Chapel.
The delegations were joined by Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo for a reception at the Canadian High Commission. Atleo also delivered a keynote address at Oxford University.

“It was very important as well to bring our message to the world in terms of our relationship to the Crown as nations and as Indigenous peoples,” said Bellegarde. “We have the inherent right to self-determination and we made a relationship with the Crown via that treaty and so, because the Royal Proclamation recognizes us as nations, we were able to enter into a nation-to-nation agreement with the Crown through our treaties.”

Bellegarde said the delegation’s time in the UK did receive coverage from British press along with Canadian media.

He said the Royal Proclamation remains an important document today and not only for laying the foundation for relations between First Nations and Canada.

“It’s a vital piece of information. It forms part of Canada’s Constitution… (and) we keep saying to Canada to respect and follow and abide by your own Constitution. So respect the inherent rights, respect the nation-to-nation relationship and find ways to honour and implement the terms of treaty,” said Bellegarde.

Photo caption: Reading the Royal Proclamation are (from left to right) Wahpeton Dakota Nation Chief Leo Omani, FSIN Chief and AFN Saskatchewan Regional Chief Perry Bellegarde, and from the FSIN Treaty Governance Office Kay Lerat.