Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation celebrates anniversary of Declaration
![Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation Members of Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation celebrated the one year anniversary of the nation's Declaration. (Angela Stewart / CTV News)](/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2024/2/22/standing-buffalo-dakota-nation-1-6780045-1708647605784.jpg)
A traditional song and dance was just the beginning of a big day for Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation in Fort Qu’Appelle Thursday.
Members of the band gathered to celebrate the one year anniversary of the nation’s Declaration, which asserts the nation’s sovereign right to govern itself.
A signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) also took place, which is another step towards reconciliation.
"We are a very proud nation. Signing the MOU with Canada today is an affirmation of our rights and our sovereignty,” said Chief Rodger Redman.
The Declaration was signed a year ago by the band and it emphasizes the importance of diplomacy for the nation including coexisting peacefully and protection of their ceremonies and laws.
"It took a lot of work and time and energy to be acknowledged as a sovereign nation in Canada. Our present leadership has done they worked very very hard and with the elders and putting together everything that you see here today is the end result,” said Dianne Goodwill, a knowledge peacekeeper for the nation.
The anniversary was also a chance to reflect on the nation’s journey and its connection to the land.
Members of Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation celebrated the one year anniversary of the nation's Declaration. (Angela Stewart / CTV News)
"What we do today is for the future of our next generation, not only to them but to our relatives, the two legged, the four legged, the winged ones. We are connected to that,” added Chief Redman.
The band says a lot of work still needs to be done but they look forward to the next steps of reconciliation.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6978852.1722008165!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
30% of town structures destroyed in Jasper wildfire: officials
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is set to tour the resort town of Jasper to see firsthand the devastation caused by wildfires.
'He was just gone': Police ramp up search for vulnerable 3-year-old boy in Mississauga, Ont.
Police in Mississauga are conducting a full-scale search of the city’s biggest park for a non-verbal toddler who went missing Thursday evening. Sgt. Jennifer Trimble told reporters Friday morning that there has been no trace of three-year-old Zaid Abdullah since 6:20 p.m., when he was last seen with his parents in Erindale Park, near Dundas Street West and Mississauga Road.
Driver charged after flashing high beams at approaching police
Orillia OPP arrested and charged a driver with impaired driving after flashing their high beams.
At least 4 buildings burned at Jasper Park Lodge, others damaged: Fairmont memo
The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge said Thursday afternoon most of its structures are 'standing and intact,' including its iconic main lodge.
Canada's Christine Sinclair: 'We were never shown drone footage'
Canada soccer great Christine Sinclair said on Friday national team players were never shown drone footage during the more than two decades she was on the team, following a spying scandal that cast a shadow over the Canadians at the Paris Games.
Winnipeg senior's account overdrawn $146,000 for water bill
A Winnipeg senior is getting soaked with a six figure water bill.
Irish museum pulls Sinead O'Connor waxwork after just one day due to backlash
An Irish museum will withdraw a waxwork of singer-songwriter Sinéad O’Connor just one day after installing it, following a backlash from her family and the public, it told CNN in a statement on Friday.
Thousands of fans take place along River Seine for rainy Olympic opening ceremony
Athletes are making their way down the Seine River through France's capital to mark the official opening of the Paris Olympics.
Major Canadian bank experiences direct deposit outage on payday
Scotiabank says it has fixed a technical issue that impacted direct deposits on Friday morning.