Confederacy and City invite Edmontonians to celebrate 150 years of Treaty No. 6 |
August 17, 2026
A week of celebrations begins today for the 150th anniversary of Treaty No. 6, the traditional territory on which amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton) sits. The Confederacy of Treaty No. 6 First Nations and the City of Edmonton are hosting a daylong event at City Hall and Churchill Square to mark this important milestone.
Treaty No. 6 Recognition Day honours the First Nations that entered into Treaty, celebrates their enduring cultures, leadership and contributions and invites Edmontonians to gather, learn and reflect on what it means to be Treaty people.
“150 years may sound like a long time,” said Grand Chief Joey Pete. “Remember, the First Nations of these Lands were here since time immemorial before welcoming newcomers and entering into Treaty No. 6. In the 150th year of Treaty No. 6, we celebrate relationships like the one we continue to build with our valued Treaty partners at the City of Edmonton. This week’s celebrations are also a good time to acknowledge that there is much more work to be done, and we are at the beginning.”
The day begins at City Hall with a traditional pipe ceremony, the raising of the Treaty No. 6 flag, a Grand Entry, an honour song, cultural presentations, a proclamation and a traditional gift exchange between the Confederacy and the City.
The celebration continues in Churchill Square from noon to 7 p.m. with singing, drumming and cultural performances. The public gathering offers people of all ages an opportunity to come together, share in the celebration and learn from Treaty No. 6 cultures and traditions. More anniversary activities can be found here.
“Living the Treaty means learning its history, honouring its spirit and intent and carrying that understanding into how we serve residents, make decisions and build relationships,” said Mayor Andrew Knack. “This anniversary is a proud moment for Edmonton and an opportunity to celebrate the leadership and contributions of Treaty No. 6 First Nations. The City is honoured to welcome people to the heart of our city and celebrate alongside the Confederacy as we strengthen this relationship for generations to come.”
First Nations and the Crown entered into Treaty No. 6 at Fort Carlton on August 23, 1876. Chiefs entered into an adhesion to Treaty No. 6 at a location in what is now Edmonton on August 21, 1877.
The Confederacy and the City formalized their relationship through a Memorandum of Cooperation and Dialogue signed in 2012 and renewed in 2021. They have co-hosted Treaty No. 6 Recognition Day since 2013 as an annual opportunity to gather, learn and celebrate together.
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For more information:
Media contact:
Michelle Steele
Communications Advisor
Community Services
Treaty 6 Media contact
Brian Golightly
Communications Manager
pipikwan pêhtâkwan
587-936-3034
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