Treaty 6 Adhesion

Almost 75 years after the original Treaty 6 was negotiated, the Wichekan Lake community signed it and was included in the treaty agreement on November 21, 1950. -------------------- In Brenda McLeod's thesis "Treaty land entitlement in Saskatchewan: conflicts in land use and occupancy in the Witchekan Lake area" writes that, "Elders reported that Band members were motivated to sign the adhesion because of the promises that were made for houses, a school, horses and haying equipment. [83] One elder specified that people were not destitute or in need of any of the promised items; people merely wanted what was offered.[84] Yet another elder reported being told by Corporal Chester that if the Band did not sign the treaty adhesion, they might lose their reserve.[85] -------------With the signing of the treaty adhesion, the federal government presence was established quickly; the first changes began with the establishment of a Day School on the Reserve. The Day School changed the way in which the family unit followed the annual cycle of land use and occupancy. Only the men went out to hunt and trap as the women stayed behind to care for the children attending the Day school.The Family Allowance cheque was a source of monthly income for families, provided school-aged children had regular school attendance. Once the Band entered into treaty, an increased government presence in their lives and enforcement of Indian Act truancy regulations monitored school attendance closely. More specifically, one of the women stated, "Trapping at M-61 changed with the school. Before the school, everyone lived an Indian life. After the school, people began to speak English and began to live a White life. The young people went to school but not the entire population."[92]" Pg 111-112.