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Wawatay News AUGUST 8, 2013
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photo by Lenny Carpenter/Wawatay News
photo by Lenny Carpenter/Wawatay News
During the Mushkegowuk Treaty Conference community members performed a reenactment of the events that transpired over 100 years ago at the signing of Treaty 9.
First Nations Chiefs at the conference called it a historical and emotional day because both the original Treaty and the diaries of the treaty commissioners were present for all to see.
Treaty 9 returns to Moose Factory; originally signed 108 years ago Lenny Carpenter Wawatay News
Nearly 108 years after the day the Treaty 9 Treaty was in Moose Factory, the historical parchment returned to the territory of the Mushkegowuk of the James Bay coast. It would also be the first time since that era that the diary of Ontario treaty commissioner Daniel G. MacMartin and the treaty would be under the same roof. Both the treaty and the
diary were in Moose Factory on July 31 and Aug. 1 during the James Bay Treaty – Treaty No. 9 Conference hosted by Mushkegowuk Tribal Council. Moose Cree Chief Norman Hardisty Jr. said it was something to see the treaty and diary back on their traditional territory. “I was a little emotional to see the diaries,� he said. “Certainly there’s a message in there that we agreed to work together, to share our lands and resources, to be able to
able to deal with health issues, housing, shelter and so forth.� Mushkegowuk Grand Chief Stan Louttit said history was being made when the treaty and diary arrived at the conference. And it had a special meaning for both the leaders and treaty members. “Even though we talk about the treaty and we see it on paper and talk about in our meetings, but to see the actual document that my grandfather and other leaders of that era signed during that time, I think
that was very enlightening and emotional,� he said. Louttit said it was emotional as he looked through pages and found the name of his grandfather, Andrew Wesley, who signed in Fort Albany in 1905. “I just couldn’t wait to get to that page where my grandfather put his mark – even though I’ve seen it in copies,� he said. “I looked at his mark, and I could just feel what he must’ve went though and what he thought back in 1905.�
Others were moved to tears as they found their ancestors’ signature. Louttit said they received full cooperation from the Ontario archives and Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs when they proposed bringing the treaty to the conference. “When we initially contacted them, it wasn’t about, ‘no we can’t do it,’ it was about ‘how can we do it,’� Louttit said. Hardisty said to see the treaty was important for the youth. “There was a lot of young
people coming not only into politics but being leaders in other fields,� he said. “They have a lot to learn. Even as leaders today, we have a lot to learn.� Hardisty said to learn the meaning of the treaty as learned from the Elders is important. “I believe it is time that all the parties to the treaty (Ontario and Canada) step up and ensure that what was in the treaty is agreed upon and we move forward,� he said.
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