History goes full circle for Chief Garnet Woodhouse
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/08/2021 (1530 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
WASAGAMING — The circle completed itself on Saturday, Aug. 21 for Chief Garnet Woodhouse.
That was the day Woodhouse received a replica of the same coin his great-great grandfather, Richard Woodhouse, received 150 years ago when he signed Treaty 2 on behalf of Pinaymootang First Nation (Fairford) at Manitoba House, near present-day Kinosota, Man., on Aug. 21, 1871.
In a ceremony to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the signing of Treaty 2 on Saturday at Wasagaming, Treaty 2 Territory, nine First Nation communities including Pinaymootang First Nation where Woodhouse has been Chief for 18 years, received a replica of the historical medal that his great-great grandfather received, along with those First Nation communities whose forefathers received the same medal 150 years prior.
Those First Nation communities who entered into Treaty 2 on Aug. 21, 1871 were Dauphin River, Ebb and Flow, Keeseekoowenin, Lake St. Martin, Lake Manitoba, Little Saskatchewan, O-Chi-Chak-Ko-Sipi, Pinaymootang and Skownan.
On Saturday in Wasagaming in Riding Mountain National Park, chiefs from those First Nation communities or their representatives, were on hand to commemorate and receive a replica of the original medals.
Dignitaries joining notable First Nations elders, knowledge keepers and historians in commemorating the day included Brandon Mayor Rick Chrest, Minister of Indigenous Reconciliation and Northern Relations Alan Lagimodiere, Grand Chief of Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Arlen Dumas, Grand Chief of the Southern Chief’s Organization Jerry Daniels and newly elected Regional Chief, Grand Chief, First Nations Treaty 2 Territory, Eugene Eastman and Assembly of First Nations, Regional Chief, Cindy Woodhouse.
The original medal is only one of two known medals. The other is with someone from Keeseekoowenin First Nation.
Woodhouse inherited the medal shortly after his father died in 1974 when his mother handed him the medal saying that his father wanted him to have it.
“Your dad left this with you … to keep it, honour it, respect it.’”
On Aug. 21, 2011, when Kyler was still a baby, Woodhouse recognized something in the child that he felt the precious medal should be passed on. “I saw something in him. He will be a leader in the future.”
At 10, Kyler Nepinak is the oldest son of newly elected Assembly of First Nations Manitoba Regional Chief Cindy Woodhouse. Both Woodhouse and his daughter know and recognize that Kyler will lead some day.
The sun, grass, water and two people shaking hands can be seen on the medal suggesting the importance between First Nations people and non First Nations people. At the ceremony on Saturday, the common theme of the interpretation of those elements was equality for everyone.
Woodhouse has hope for his people in the future and wishes for that equality and harmony.
He hopes his grandson and daughter will carry on the tradition of leadership in his family into the future.
» kkielley@brandonsun.com