Documentary sheds light on Indigenous lives under Treaty 8 Signed in 1899, Treaty 8 is the only numbered treaty in the province, covering northeast British Columbia A documentary exploring the 125-year history of Treaty 8 premiered in Fort St. John, B.C., on Sunday. The film, Spirit of Treaty 8, was directed by Haida filmmaker Nang Ḵ’uulas Patrick Shannon and produced in partnership with the City of Fort St.
John and the Treaty 8 Tribal Association. "This film is about the history; the why, the how of treaty, as well as how it impacts the present- day lives of community members and how people feel under treaty," he said in an interview with CBC Radio's Daybreak North. "But then also using treaty as that base foundation to be able to build a brighter, stronger future." Treaty 8 is the only numbered treaty in British Columbia, one of 11 historic agreements created between the Canadian government and First Nations between 1871 and 1921.
Signed on June 21, 1899, Treaty 8 extends into the B.C. Peace and Northern Rockies, while also covering northern Alberta, northwestern Saskatchewan, and the southwestern Northwest Territories. The 40-minute-long film includes vignettes from the lives of Indigenous people from across Treaty 8 territory, sharing their stories, Shannon says.
Treaties are often — but not always — honoured and recognized in Canada, says Shannon. "I think it's so important for people to understand, to scrutinize, to pay attention what treaty actually means and what it is," he said. "Not just for Indigenous people, but also for non-Indigenous people." "I think the more that we understand how we got here, the more that we understand how everyday lives are being impacted, the more we can work together and move forward in a good way." Treaty 8 also has outstanding issues the province is seeking to remedy through Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE), in addition to impacts from Site C.
First Nation signatories were promised land according to a population-based formula, but some Treaty 8 First Nations did not receive all the land they were entitled to, notes a recent news release by the province. Five Treaty 8 Nations in B.C. currently have TLE settlements: Blueberry River First Nations and Doig River First Nation in a joint claim, Halfway River First Nation and West Moberly First Nations also in a joint claim, and Saulteau First Nations.
Shannon said he feels the present day is an exciting and uncomfortable time for recognition of Indigenous title, sovereignty and rights, noting the confusion surrounding issues like the Cowichan decision. "Coming from Haida Gwaii, we are a nation that has been at the forefront of so many of our battles for rights and title, and recognition of our sovereignty," he said. "And that's something that I see happening in Indigenous communities all across B.C.
and Canada." "I think everyone has the best of intentions who's involved in this, I think there's just a lot of ambiguity and a lot of fear. Because these conversations of what treaty and what co-existence and everything means, this should have been dealt with 125 years ago." Subscribe to CBC’s Fort St. John Weekly for a roundup of the best news and stories from B.C.’s Peace and Northern Rockies.
With files from Daybreak North
