Highway signs to mark Treaty boundaries in Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan is launching a signage project that is the first of its kind in Canada.

The provincial government said Tuesday it’s supporting the Office of the Treaty Commissioner’s application for official Treaty boundary signage. Saskatchewan will be the first province in Canada to recognize the boundaries through signs on its major highways.

The ministries of Government Relations and Highways are working with the Office of the Treaty Commissioner on the plan.

After a final design is set, the Ministry of Highways will arrange for the manufacturing and installation of the first sign, which is planned for this winter or the spring of 2022.

“This is the start of a much-needed public recognition of the Treaty Territories in Saskatchewan,” Mary Culbertson, the Treaty Commissioner of Saskatchewan, said in a media release.

“The path to reach this point was long and involved conversations about our history and the desire of our Knowledge Keepers, who wanted to see these signs. It marks the beginning of a process being undertaken to one day ensure every border driven past in these territories will have a demarcation. We want everyone to know they are here because of Treaty.

“Acknowledging the territories that we are on and accepting they are the foundation of Saskatchewan and Canada is so important to the Treaty relationship and reconciliation. It may be a small step, but the signs will be here for a long time.”

The signs will mark the two largest Treaty territories in Saskatchewan, Treaty 4 and Treaty 6. The government and the Office of the Treaty Commissioner will determine the location and composition of signs, and to make sure the proper protocols and ceremonies are observed before the signs are installed.