Recently while filing some papers, I came across a story I did for the Boyle McCauley News October 2017 edition about Treaty 6 Recognition Day. I think it was Creator who brought this to my attention. Thank you.

I reported then the Mayor saying the City needed to put up “big flag poles” in order to permanently have the flag flying. I followed up this week and there it is flying between the City of Edmonton flag and the Métis Nation flag. I was unable to attend the recognition event last month so would have noticed it then. I feel like Creator wants me to put the record straight. The Mayor said he would do it, and he did – a person of integrity who understands we are all treaty people.

A saying I came across speaks to this, if we all understood we are treaty people:

“Whenever the white man treats the Indian as they treat each other then we shall have no more wars. We shall be all alike – brothers of one father and mother, with one sky above us and one country around us and one government for all. Then the Great Spirit Chief who rules above will smile upon this land and send rain to wash out the bloody spots made by brothers’ hands upon the face of the earth. For this time the Indian race is waiting and praying. I hope no more groans of wounded men and women will ever go to the ear of the Great Spirit Chief above, and that all people may be one people.” Chief Joseph (Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt) Nez Perce Tribe, 1840-1904. Lincoln Hall Speech, Washington DC, January 14, 1879.

Sharon Pasula is an Indigenous spiritual and cultural resource person who lives in Boyle Street.