Treaty Elders of Saskatchewan
Our Dream Is That Our Peoples Will One Day Be Clearly Recognized As Nations

Harold Cardinal and Walter Hildebrandt

About the Book

"It is my hope, and the hope of the Office of the Treaty Commissioner, that this publication can help provide the historical context needed to intelligently and respectfully forge new relations between First Nations people and non-Aboriginal people in the province of Saskatchewan. It has already done so, in part, by facilitationg the work of our office in bringing together the parties of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations and Canada to reach common understandings and to use the Treaties as a bridge from the past to the future ... so that we can learn from the past and work together towards a future built on co-operation and mutual respect." Judge David M. Arnot, Treaty Commissioner for Saskatchewan

"We were told that these treaties were to last forever. The government and the government officials, the Commissioner, told us that, as long as the grass grows, and the sun rises from the east and sets in the west, and the river flows, these treaties will last." Treaty 6 Elder Alma Kytwayhat

"We say it's our Father; the White man says "our Father" in his language, so from there we should understand that he becomes our brother and we have to live harmoniously with him. There should not be any conflict, we must uphold the word 'witaskewin,' which means to live in peace and harmony with one another." Elder Jacob Bill

About the Authors

Harold Cardinal is a lawyer and author of The Unjust Society: The Tragedy of Canada's Indians.

Walter Hildebrandt is an historian and co-author of The True Spirit and Original Intent of Treaty 7.

Table of Contents

• Foreword vii
• Preface ix
• Context 1
• The Starting Point for Treaty Discussions 3
• Shared First Nations Foundations 9
• Iyiniw sawÍyiht’kosiwin (The Peoplesí Sacred Gifts) 10
• Miyo-wÓcÍhtowin (The Principle of Getting Along Well with Others, GoodÝRelations, Expanding the Circle) 14
• WiyÙht’wÓm’w (The Divine Father) 18
• Misk’sowin (Finding Oneís Sense of Origin and Belonging, FindingÝ ìOneísÝSelfî or Finding ìOneís Centreî) 21
• Kihci-asotam’towin (Sacred Promises to One Another, The Treaty Sovereignsí Sacred Undertakings) 25
• WÓtaskÍwin (Living Together on the Land) 39
• Pim’cihowin (Making a Living) 43
• T’pwÍwin (Speaking the Truth or Speaking with Precision and Accuracy) 48
• AskÓwipim’cihowascikÍwina (Setting into Place Arrangements for Livelihood, Living and Evolving Treaty Rights) 60
• Conclusion: ì... so that they may have a good futureî 68
• Notes 72
• Glossary of Terms 78
• Bibliography 81

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