A special celebration is being held later this month to recognize an important piece of First Nations history in the area.
August 30th is Treaty Day, marking the 1796 signing of the St. Anne’s Island Treaty, also known as Treaty #7, an agreement between the Crown and ancestors of the Bkejwanong Territory. It set aside a reserve of roughly 92,000 acres for the Anishinaabe and explicitly recognized their inherent rights to unmolested trade, hunting, and free movement
Members of Walpole Island First Nation continue to invoke the principles of the St. Anne’s Treaty to assert inherent rights to cross borders, trade, and use traditional lands.
The cross-border celebration on August 30 begins with a ceremony at the Algonac Veterans Monument in Michigan at 1:20pm, followed by honour and flag songs, a pipe ceremony, and remarks from Chief, Council, Elders, and Knowledge Keepers.
At 4 o’clock, the festivities shift to Walpole Island First Nation, with an official St. Anne’s Island Treaty presentation at the arena, community barbecue, and fireworks to wrap up the day.
