Students from Humboldt Public School raised the Treaty 6 flag during a ceremony at Humboldt City Hall on Monday. Middle grade students from all three elementary schools took part in the ceremony. (Facebook/City of Humboldt - Municipal Government)

By Becky Zimmer

Youth and city hall

Young Humboldt students raise Treaty 6 flag to begin reconciliation week

Sep 28, 2023 | 9:41 AM

Representatives from all three of Humboldt’s elementary schools gathered at city hall to raise the Treaty 6 flag on Monday as part of Reconciliation Week in the city.

Celeste Leray-Leicht, vice-principal of St. Dominic School, said middle-year classes from St. Augustine, Humboldt Public School, and St. Dominic were in attendance with each class playing a role.

O’Canada was sung in three different languages with the public school students contributing the French portion and St. Augustine students singing the Cree portion.

Elder Stuart Bitternose of the George Gordon First Nation said a prayer and spoke to students followed by Melissa Stockburger-Knaus saying a prayer for everyone to play their own parts in reconciliation.

St. Dominic students made opening and closing remarks while public school students raised the flag. St. Augustine students sang the Treaty 6 song, which they prepared for the school’s treaty metal installation ceremony last year, as well as sang at the National Indigenous Peoples Day ceremony in Saskatoon.

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Especially with getting young people involved, the day was important to raise awareness about the importance of reconciliation, said Leray-Leicht.

“These symbols, like the Treaty Six flag, will serve as reminders to all citizens of the importance of committing to reconciliation and of the responsibility we all share in taking active roles to empower and strengthen all youth and citizens and to be mindful that every child matters.”

The City of Humboldt proclaimed the week of Sept. 24-30 Reconciliation Week in the city. Council approved the proclamation at their Sept. 25 regular council meeting.

Humboldt is striving to be a city of reconciliation, mutual respect and understanding, read Mayor Michael Behiel during the meeting, and he encourages everyone to participate in “commemorating the history and legacy of residential schools and develop an understanding of the historical impacts.”

September 30 specifically has been “reclaimed by survivors as a day to listen to the stories of those that were affected by the residential school system, to celebrate the inherent value of Indigenous peoples and their cultures, and to reflect on the ways in which our society must improve in order to better uplift and respect Indigenous people living in Canada,” read the proclamation.