The relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in the Battlefords area could be described as a rocky one and an event that happened 133 years ago tomorrow (Tues) is part of that history. November 27th, 1885, was Canada’s largest mass hanging at Fort Battleford when 8 Indigenous men were hung for their part in the Northwest Rebellion.

The goal of an event at Wanuskewin Heritage Park tomorrow afternoon is to find a way to move forward and to become good neighbours. One of the organizers, Gary LaPlante, says the hope would be to reconcile the stories from both sides and how everyone was affected at some point in the future, but for now it’s about being able to feel safe, living side by side.

‘Searching for the Patch to Reconciliation’ is from 12:30 to 4 tomorrow and LaPlante says everyone is welcome. The emcee is Judge David Arnott, Chair of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission and it’s hosted by Chief Sylvia Weenie of the Young Chipewyan/Stoney Knoll First Nation and Saskatchewan’s Treaty Commissioner, Mary Culbertson.