Visit to Fort Qu'Appelle

Before the Governor General's departure, an Indigenous dance was performed in honour of his visit.

He took this opportunity to exchange with members of the community.

He also thanked them for the warm welcome.

Following the ceremony, the Governor General did a walking tour of exhibits featuring First Nations’ traditions and educational activities on Treaty No. 4 grounds.

At the end of the ceremony, a group picture was taken with His Excellency, Her Honour, Chief of the Treaty No. 4 Executive Council, National Chief of Assembly of First Nations and with chiefs of Territory No 4.

During the ceremony, His Excellency expressed his gratitude to National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Perry Bellegarde, who was also in attendance.

The Treaty No. 4 Protocol Ceremony takes place every year in the Qu’Appelle Valley, at Fort Qu’Appelle, during the second week of September. It is a celebration to recognize, discuss and evaluate Treaty No. 4, which was signed at Fort Qu’Appelle on September 15, 1874, by Queen Victoria and the Cree and Saulteaux First Nation band governments.

"Today is about much more than simply marking an anniversary. Yes, Treaty Four was signed near here 142 years ago, but that doesn’t make it history. Treaties, as you know,are living, breathing documents. They are forward-looking. They matter to all of us, because they lie at the heart of the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians," said His Excellency.

The ceremony hosted by Chief Lynn Acoose of the Treaty No. 4 Executive Council (far right). Her Honour the Honourable Vaughn Solomon Schofield, Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan, also attended the ceremony (pink jacket).

His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, attended the Treaty No. 4 Protocol Ceremony in Fort Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan, on September 13, 2016. Prior to the ceremony, he met with the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Perry Bellegarde.