By Derrick Kunz, Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools (GSCS)
[Humboldt, SK] – St. Dominic School students, staff and community recently held a Treaty 6 medal installation ceremony to recognize progress along their journey of learning about treaties and the need for reconciliation and healing.
Community leaders from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon, the Office of the Treaty Commissioner, the Government of Saskatchewan, and the City of Humboldt joined Board of Education Chair Diane Boyko and the Catholic-school community for the celebration on May 27.

Fr. Colin Roy, pastor of St. Augustine Parish in Humboldt, blessed the Treaty 6 plaque during the installation celebration at St. Dominic School. (Photo by Derrick Kunz, Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools)
The process of planning for this special event gave school staff and the school community an opportunity to grow in knowledge of treaty relationships.
“There was a realization within our community—within our province and across the country—that we needed to know more about treaties, residential schools, and historical relationships with Indigenous peoples in Canada to move forward. We are able to bring in the expertise of our elders, knowledge keepers and members of the division’s First Nations Métis and Inuit Education team to come in and guide us, to share, and to walk along with us in the journey,” said Chad Knaus, the principal at St. Dominic School.
“From a Catholic perspective, we incorporated the act of reconciliation—with ourselves, others and with God—in making sure we take care of our brothers and sisters,” said Knaus. “We undertook studying and learning more about treaties. We brought in speakers to come and share their knowledge of treaties and how we can grow in understanding of our own treaty relationships.”
Throughout the celebration, St. Dominic students shared what they had learned—First Nations and Métis cultures and histories, the spirit and intent of treaties, treaty relationships, treaty promises and provisions, and the historical context of treaties— through music, dance, art and various presentations.

Students shared what they have learned during the installation celebration in a program that included dance, music, art, and displays. (Photo by Derrick Kunz, Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools)

The May 27 celebration at St. Dominic School in Humboldt included student presentations, performances and displays that highlighted what has been learned in preparing for the Treaty 6 medal installation. (Photo by Derrick Kunz, Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools)

Students participation was a large part of the Treaty 6 medal installation at St. Dominic School in Humboldt, SK. (Photo by Derrick Kunz, Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools)

(Photo courtesy of Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools)
A Treaty 6 medal installation was also held at St. Gabriel Catholic School in Biggar, SK, on June 2.
Throughout the process of planning for this special event, St. Gabriel school staff and the school community also had the opportunity to grow in knowledge of treaty relationships. As with other Treaty 6 medal installation celebrations in Catholic schools, students shared their knowledge and learning about the spirit and intent of treaties, and about Indigenous and Métis culture.
“We’re all on a learning and healing journey together,” said Rick Garchinski, the principal at St. Gabriel School. “There is a bit of an awakening within our community—within our province and across the country. We are fortunate to have the expertise of our elders, knowledge keepers and members of the division’s First Nations Métis and Inuit Education team to come in to teach and guide us as we learn more about treaties, residential schools, and historical relationships with Indigenous peoples in Canada. It’s important that we walk along this journey together to move forward.”
“Reconciliation with God and others is such an important part of our Catholic faith. We are called to take care of brothers and sisters, and seek to restore broken relationships” said Garchinski.
As a multi-year initiative, the GSCS plans to have Treaty 6 medals installed at all 50 schools in the division as a tangible sign and reminder of the commitment to truth and reconciliation.
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Other Treaty 6 medal installations in Spring 2022:
Since March 2018, when École St. Paul School became the first provincial school in Saskatchewan to install a Treaty 6 medal as visible recognition of relationships and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, other schools have pursued this path of learning about and recognizing treaties, history and Indigenous culture, including:
June 2 – École Mother Teresa School, Saskatoon
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June 2 – St. Maria Goretti School, Saskatoon
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May 31 – St. Edward School, Saskatoon
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May 30 – St. Nicholas School, Saskatoon
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May 30 – Saskatoon French School
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May 26 – St. Bernard School, Saskatoon
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May 26 – Holy Family School, Saskatoon
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May 20 – St. Luke School, Saskatoon
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May 20 – École Sister O’Brien School, Saskatoon
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May 18 – Holy Cross High School, Saskatoon
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May 18 –École Holy Mary School, Martensville
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April 7 – St. Kateri Tekakwitha School, Saskatoon
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April 5 – Bishop Murray High School, Saskatoon
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March 26 – St. Augustine School, Saskatoon
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Treaty 6 flag raising:
May 19 – Bishop Roborecki Community School, Saskatoon
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