Source: Alaska Highway News
As long as the sun shines and the grass grows and the river flows, we’ll be here. We were here at the beginning, we’ll be here at the end’ Jun 22, 2021 9:32 AM By: Tom Summer
The City of Fort St. John raised the flag of the Treaty 8 First Nations Monday in recognition of the century-old agreement and as part of Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations.
Doig River First Nation joined the city in raising the flag, with drummers performing a traditional song as part of the historic ceremony.
The new flag will be permanently flown at city hall, and Chief Trevor Makadahay says the inclusion is a significant recognition of local First Nations in their territory.
“As long as the sun shines and the grass grows and the river flows, we’ll be here. We were here at the beginning, we’ll be here at the end,” said Makadahay. “When you look at that flag, it represents a lot to our people.”
Treaty 8 was first signed in 1899, and covers much of northeast B.C., along with portions of northwest Alberta and the Northwest Territories. Today it encompasses 39 First Nation communities, including eight in B.C.
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