Treaty 4 Flag

Description

Treaty 4, signed in 1874, included parts of present-day southern Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Manitoba. The treaty was negotiated between the Crown, represented by Alexander Morris, and the Cree, Saulteaux, and Assiniboine peoples. The agreement opened the region for settlement while providing Indigenous signatories with promises of annuities, reserve lands, and farming equipment.

The Indigenous leaders sought the treaty to secure their survival as the buffalo populations declined and settlers increased. However, differing understandings of land sharing versus ceding caused lasting tensions.

Treaty 4 remains a foundational document in discussions about resource management and Indigenous rights in Canada.

The Treaty 4 flag was designed as a symbol of unity and cultural heritage, inspired by the historical and cultural significance of Treaty 4, signed in 1874. The design was created by Elder Gordon Oakes and became central to community efforts to honor the treaty’s legacy. The flag represents the balance of cultural and natural elements, including the sun, earth, water, and buffalo, which hold deep meaning in Indigenous traditions.

The Treaty 4 flag was first permanently raised at Regina City Hall on October 14, 2011, marking a historic moment as a First Nations flag was flown alongside municipal, provincial, and national flags in Canada. This event followed years of consultation and relationship-building between local Indigenous communities and the city of Regina​

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