Our Story Tellers, Our Guidance and Our Knowledge

By Reighlene Peigan

The veterans tent, a big white tent, to me it really stood out because it wasn’t a tipi and it also had two flags on it, a Canadian and a British flag. Seeing our veterans sitting there waiting for the youth to come so they could tell their amazing stories was really beautiful to see.

During my time at Treay 4 I got to meet and interview elders to talk about the gathering; I learned that a lot has changed, according to elder Thomas Desnomie from the Peepeekisis First Nations. He’s been coming to the gatherings for 20 plus years and he says the powwows got shorter, and to him Treaty 4 means the singing of treaty in 1874 and that his grandfather was there when they signed it!

I also interviewed elder Tony Lerat from the Cowessess First Nation; he’s been coming to the gathering for eight years. He said the things that changed were the kids are more open with the questions about First Nations people, unlike the first years he said they were a little afraid to ask. He said the parents held the kids back. I then ask Tony Lerat what treaty meant to him. He said treaty is about people, “You couldn’t have signed a treaty with only one person, you need two, an Indian and a white man.”

As a First Nation personI was always taught you respect elders because they play a very important role in our lives; they’re our story tellers, our guidance and our knowledge. If we need someone to talk to they’re always there. To me elders and veterans are important because of all the things they’ve done for us; they fought for us and they have been through the worst times but are still here with a smile on their face and as gentle as can be!