A commemoration of the signing of the historic Treaty 1 took place on August 3, 149 years later.

1871 was the year, and it took place at the original location of Lower Fort Garry. 

"There are seven first nations that are part of Treaty 1 which includes Peguis, Sagkeeng, Roseau River, Brokenhead, Swan Lake, Long Plain and Sandy Bay," says Long Plain First Nation Chief Dennis Meeches. "We have an annual commemoration of our Treaty. And our First Nations communities usually have their own treaty celebration days. This year Long Plain, for example, would normally have a big powwow."

Meeches says they unveiled a new Treaty 1 flag at Lower Fort Garry and it will continue to fly there in the future. He adds that in 2017 they initiated a Legacy Flag project and all seven First Nations involved in Treaty 1 each had their flags flying at the Fort as well.

The new flag represents the Treaty and its colours, sending a message saying that so long as the sun shines, the grass grows and the rivers flow, the Treaty will be in effect. Meeches explains it has components including the red circle of the sun in the middle representing Indigenous people, with seven rays representing the seven First Nations that comprise the Treaty.

He explains the significance of Treaty 1.

"Well, it opened up practically all of Southern Manitoba for settlement," says Meeches. "And the treaty relationship that we have, of course, has always been a challenge for Indigenous people. Our belief behind the Treaty is that we are a sovereign nation within a sovereign state and allies of the Crown, in some respects."

Meeches notes there's been a lot of challenges with colonial legislation and policies, and how they affected indigenous people in the region. He explains he believes people are really starting to understand what all of this means as well as their history.

Meeches says another project they're working on at Lower Fort Garry is a Treaty 1 Interpretive Centre. He notes many people may have a lack of clear understanding of what treaties are all about, and the centre will help bring awareness. Meeches says an Interpretive Centre would promote what treaties are all about and how they impact everybody.

He notes they have a Treaty Relations Commission, and a few years ago, a promotion was released entitled 'We are All Treaty People'. That concept is based on the number of treaties that had been made through the past. Meeches says there's a lot of merit to seeing that concept advanced and to see more education awareness for everyone in general.

He says all of this is quite timely. Though 2020 has brought many negative events, there is also the awareness of important issues like Black Lives Matter and how it is addressing the racism problem.

Meeches acknowledges much work remains to be done, and he hopes they can promote a stronger Treaty 1. He says their belief is that it will also create a stronger Canada. Meeches hopes people will embrace the idea of Indigenous people coming into their homes and having a strong partnership with Canada about what the Treaties mean and what they're all about.