‘It’ll make our people proud’

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This article was published 15/09/2021 (1702 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Drumbeats reverberated as four Indigenous leaders rode horseback past the brick-walled restaurants on King Street: it was the beginning of a ceremony to recognize the place of Indigenous people in Winnipeg.

On Wednesday morning, the flags of Treaty One First Nations, the Dakota and the Métis were hoisted at city hall. They’ll be there permanently, alongside the flags of Canada, Manitoba and Winnipeg.

“It’ll make our people proud that their flag will be flying at city hall,” said Sagkeeng First Nation Chief Derrick Henderson. “That is so significant.”

Chiefs, representatives of various Indigenous groups and Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman spoke at the flag-raising event. Ribbon skirts, headdresses and face masks were abundant among the crowd.

“Something (at city hall) was missing,” Bowman told attendees. “That something was the simplest, most basic acknowledgement of the nations we are here to honour today.”

Bowman said city hall is meant to be a symbol of modernism, progress and hope, and that the newly erected flags signify that times have changed.

Tim Daniels, chief operating officer of Treaty One Development Corp., helped design the entity’s flag last year.

He created the first sketch using the Notes app on his iPad. Now, when he drives by city hall, he’ll be reminded of the treaty: the flag’s colours — yellow, green and blue — represent the phrase “As long as the sun shines, the grass grows and the rivers flow,” which is how long the treaty is meant to last.

“There’s a lot of pride,” Daniels said about seeing the flag raised. “It’s a… milestone day.”

Clayton Sandy, who attended on behalf of Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, said recognition for the nation is “long overdue.”

“The Dakota people haven’t been treated that well, and haven’t been recognized a lot, but we’re slowly getting there,” he said, adding it’s because much of the nation immigrated from the United States.

Sandy is an ambassador for the Circles for Reconciliation. He said he’s seen a positive shift in people’s willingness to engage in reconciliation over the past decade.

“We are here for our children, so they can stand proud as they see the great flags of our nations,” Andrew Carrier, the vice-president of the Manitoba Metis Federation, said in a speech.

Carrier’s opinion aligned with Sandy’s: “it’s about time that we finally recognize that this is our home,” he said.

“It is truly important to recognize that we are the founders of this great nation of Manitoba.”

gabrielle.piche@freepress.mb.ca