Treaty 7 Flag

Description

Treaty 7, signed in 1877, covered present-day southern Alberta. The agreement was made between the Crown and several First Nations, including the Blackfoot Confederacy, to open the land for settlement and railway expansion. Promises of reserve lands, payments, and farming support were made to Indigenous signatories.

For the First Nations, the treaty was a strategy to protect their people as buffalo populations declined. However, misunderstandings about the land-sharing aspect have caused enduring tensions.

The legacy of Treaty 7 is central to debates over resource use and Indigenous rights in Alberta.

he Treaty 7 Flag was designed in 2012 as part of the Making Treaty 7 project, an initiative that was developed in response to the cultural celebrations during Calgary’s time as the Canadian Culture Capital. The flag was created to honor the historical significance of Treaty 7 and to foster better understanding and recognition of the Treaty Nations’ cultures and contributions.

The design was a collaborative effort, with input from various First Nations leaders and community members. It was officially unveiled as a symbol of unity and reconciliation, particularly important to communities such as the Blackfoot Confederacy, Stoney Nakoda Nations, and Tsuut’ina​

The design includes:

• Blue: representing the sky.
• Brown: symbolizing the mountains, particularly Chief Mountain, which holds spiritual significance.
• Tipis: five tipis symbolize the five tribes in Treaty 7, with the central tipi representing the Kainai (Blood Tribe).
• Animals: Each animal, such as the buffalo (representing the Piikani), the eagle (Stoney Nakoda), the otter (Siksika), and the beaver (Tsuut’ina), is an important cultural symbol.
• Crossed Pipes: These represent unity among the Nations.
• Seven Feathers: Signifying the seven Nations of Treaty 7, emphasizing the collaborative and enduring relationship forged through the treaty

Additional information