Indigenous Times
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Issue 1 • Volume 18
February 2013
THE RIGHT TO EXIST:
Landless First Nations Seek Reclamation After meeting with Chief Perry Bellegarde of the Federation Saskatchewan Indian Nations, Chief Ben Weenie of the Stoney Knoll First Nation (also known as Young Chippewayan) announced that they will host a Saskatchewan First Nations landless conference at the Dakota Dunes Casino conference centre on April 18, 2013.
Chief Ben Weenie of Stoney Knoll First Nation
In explaining the reasoning for the gathering Chief Weenie stated that it’s difficult to find readilyavailable information on landless First Nations. It is this fact that he wants changed immediately, he would like to have available the story and struggle of the landless First Nations that exist. In the case of the Stoney Knoll #107 “our ancestors signed Treaty 6 in August of 1876. They were there; they were people who made Treaty
with the Queen’s representatives. This is not disputed, it is well documented.” And yet they have no land. There are other landless First Nations that seek recognition by the Government of Canada by virtue of the fact that their ancestors had signed treaty with the Crown as well. Among those are Peter Chapman First Nation, Chakastapaysin First Nation and Big Bear First Nation of Treaty 6, Chacachas of Treaty 4 and John Cochrane of Treaty 5 for example. These First Nations continue to struggle to re-establish themselves as constituted First Nations with a land base as was agreed to under Treaty. Chief Weenie further stated “I know some may think that I sound like a broken record repeating myself over the years. I tell these people and the Governments of Canada, we will never forget our ancestors who signed the Treaty with the Queen in right of Canada. We have a Treaty and Inherent Right to exist with a land base that was agreed to in 1876.” •
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