LLRIB Chief Isiah Charles was born in 1920 and passed away in 1978. (Submitted photo/Tammy Cook-Searson)

By Derek Cornet

honouring

Headstone for late LLRIB Chief Isiah Charles erected in Stanley Mission

Jul 16, 2024 | 5:00 PM

A new headstone honouring the late Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB) Chief Isiah Charles was commemorated Tuesday.

Charles was the chief of the LLRIB from 1967 to 1969 and he was from Grandmother’s Bay but buried in Stanley Mission. The ceremony to commemorate the headstone was held during the first day of the Amachewespimawin Community Gathering in Stanley Mission.

Special dignitaries, community members, and Charles’ family attended the ceremony.

“We wanted to make sure we had a beautiful headstone for the chiefs who have served our community members and helped shape who we are … as the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, as a Cree nation rich in history, fishing, hunting, trapping, gathering and just the sense of community we have,” said Chief Tammy Cook-Searson.

“Even though we are six separate communities and we have a large population off-reserve, we are still a community and we still come together in times of celebration and when we go through difficult times. We have been connected since time immemorial and we wanted to recognize our leadership who was chosen by the community.”

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The idea for the Headstone Project came from members of Hall Lake, who erected a headstone for Chief James Roberts in 2019 at his burial site at Little Hills reserve. On Feb. 11, 1889, Roberts signed an adhesion to Treaty 6 on behalf of the LLRIB to form what was then called the James Roberts Band. Roberts served as chief from 1888 to 1901.

History of the LLRIB leadership. (Lac La Ronge Indian Band)

History of the LLRIB leadership. (Lac La Ronge Indian Band)

History of the LLRIB leadership. (Lac La Ronge Indian Band)

“Somebody said we should recognize all of our former chiefs and to make sure we have headstones, so we started that project and it was a great idea and there was a committee that was struck,” Cook-Searson explained.

“To date, the headstones for chiefs that have been completed so far is Chief James Roberts, who is laid to rest at Little Hills, then we have Chief Moses Ratt, who is laid to rest at Sucker River, then we have Chief Myles Venne, who is laid to rest in La Ronge.”

The headstones for Ratt and Venne were already erected during private ceremonies held by their families.

Cook-Searson wanted to thank Gladys Christiansen, the executive director of the LLRIB, for leading the way on the Headstone Project. She also wanted to thank the committee involved, along with family members of the late chiefs.

The funds for the Headstone Project have come from the band’s collaboration agreement with Cameco.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com