Promises Unkept: Treaty 8 and the Battle for Indigenous Rights – The Walrus
125 years after the signing of Treaty 8, many of the promises made to Canada’s northern First Nations remain unfulfilled. In this episode, we explore the history, impact, and ongoing struggles surrounding one of Canada’s largest treaties. Charmaine Willier-Larsen, a descendant of a Treaty 8 signatory, shares how reconnecting with her heritage led her to create the Bannock n Bed, a cultural inn just two kilometres where the treaty was signed on Lesser Slave Lake in 1899. We also hear from Grand Chief Trevor Mercredi of Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta, who breaks down the treaty’s original promises, the systemic barriers that persist, and the fight to uphold Indigenous rights.
Angela Misri – Let me take you back to the summer of 1899. Canada’s borders are expanding, our population is growing rapidly. It’s a time of change, opportunity, and uncertainty.
And in late June, amidst these changes, a group of government officials, missionaries, and Indigenous leaders have gathered near Lesser Slave Lake. The land around them is quiet, but the weight of what’s about to happen is anything but. They’re about to sign a document that will change the course of history for northern First Nations communities—Treaty 8.
