For Immediate Release
May 17, 2017
STATEMENT FROM OKIMAW ROY PETIT
Beardy’s & Okemasis’ Cree Nation, Treaty 6 – The following statement from Chief Roy Petit was released today on the successful passage of new BOCN legislation at referendum:
“This year, the country in which we live will celebrate its 150th year of existence; it is important to our ancestors, our children, and future generations, that we acknowledge that the land on which we stand is much older than this, and that there were many, many Nations that lived and thrived here prior to confederation.
141 years ago, on August 28th, 1876, Chiefs Kamistowesit (Beardy), Saswaypew (Cut Nose), and Kapeyakwaskonam (One Arrow) signed an adhesion to Treaty #6 – the act of entering into Treaty with the crown was an assertion of sovereignty; yesterday, by enacting our own Willow Cree Laws, we work to solidify our Nationhood by letting the rest of the country know that we are a sovereign Nation.
In the spirit of reconciliation we hope that we are able to come together as our two Nations once did in the past and begin the journey down a path that leads to a real partnership that honors the true intent of the treaties.
I wish to thank the ‘Yahkohtewin’ Governance Planning Committee for their effort in getting us to today, and acknowledge the collective voices of our people – past and present – in getting us to this point. These laws are yours and they pave the way for our people to determine our future.“
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For more information, please contact:
Chief & Council Communications
306-467-4523 ext 237
communications@beardysband.com
