Makoce (Earth / Land) also Ina Makoce (Mother Earth)
Wizhanabi (Worldview - a Belief that is tied to the Creator. Our principle.)
“Wakâ toxbancēn ingezarabid makoc’e neh tizhipad edaha nigicebicin.” (The Creator made everything; the land is abundant, giving us life.)
Aram Opadâ? Umi / Xaam Wicashdabi (People of the Land)
Wakâmne Wicashdabi (People from God’s Lake or Spirit Lake)
The True Spirit & Intent of Treaty comes from the blessings of traditional spirituality. Our understanding of Treaty derives from a spiritual window and spiritual context. From traditional spirituality, it assigns the interpretation of that, by natural law thru language.
Treaty established unity between:
Wakâ (The Creator)
Hûga (Leader), Mitaushin (Grandfather) Aranazhi (Stands On Top or Stands On Top the Earth), [Born in 1840’s and died October 30,1913], Leader of the Stoney Nakoda Tribe located at Wakâmne.
Huga Wiya (Woman Leader) Alexandrina Victoria [Born May 24, 1819 – Died January 22, 1901], Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
Imagine Treaty as a tripod. If one side is removed, everything falls apart.
The Creator holds everything together in unity.
This is what we strive for in Treaty and in co-existing together.
Opabi (We’re joining it)
Oral history states Mitaushin (Grandfather) Aranazhi (Stands On Top or Stands On Top the Earth), as Hûga (Leader), took Treaty because he valued this sacred relationship. He honoured the Creator and believed that the Creator would always protect them and provide a way for them. That’s why he took out his pipe and did ceremony. He wanted to make peace. He wanted a place for his people to thrive. He wanted protection and guaranteed that his tribe would benefit from Treaty.
Treaty Talks were very important to the people. The land they once knew was changing, the buffalo were disappearing, and more settlers were coming onto the land. This was a huge concern for all natives. According to oral history, Mitaushin (Grandfather) Aranazhi (Stands On Top or Stands On Top the Earth), as Hûga (Leader), called all the people back to main camp at Wakâmne. After ceremony, the whole tribe packed up and travelled with him to Wocodaaki. (place with all the houses, Fort Edmonton).
At that time, Mitaushin (Grandfather) Aranazhi (Stands On Top or Stands On Top the Earth), as Hûga (Leader), sang a song to remind the people, that the life as they know it is changing; and there is a new way of life upon us, at the edge of the reserve. The Alexis People remember this ceremony and continue to maintain his bundle, and songs.
Our Tribe was recorded as “Alexis” by the Royal Imperial Crown Representatives during Treaty negotiations.
Mitaushin (Grandfather) Aranazhi (Stands On Top or Stands On Top the Earth), as Hûga (Leader), signed the adhesion to Treaty on August 21 ,1877 at Wocodaaki (place with all the houses, Fort Edmonton).
Mitaushin (Grandfather) Aranazhi (Stands On Top or Stands On Top the Earth), was the son of Waxasēsgan (Whitebear).
Mitaushin (Grandfather) Aranazhi (Stands On Top or Stands On Top the Earth), was baptized as “Alexis Akanas” (Oblates of the Immaculate Mary, Lac Ste Anne Mission – 1840.)
Mitaushin (Grandfather) Aranazhi (Stands On Top or Stands On Top the Earth), was also known as Nabe Gduzahan (“Broken Hand”), and his Cree neighbors simply referred to him as Kees-kee-chee-chi.
His Treaty government name was recorded as “CHIEF ALEXIS, KEES-KEE-CHEE-CHI.”
In the year 1880, Mitaushin (Grandfather) Aranazhi (Stands On Top or Stands On Top the Earth), as Hûga (Leader), and his People collected Treaty annuity payments. According to the Alexis Treaty Annuity Paylist, Mitaushin (Grandfather) Aranazhi (Stands On Top or Stands On Top the Earth), as Hûga (Leader), Treaty number was listed as #1.
Under Treaty No. 6, Mitaushin (Grandfather) Aranazhi (Stands On Top or Stands On Top the Earth), as Hûga (Leader), and his successors, retained inherent rights and legal jurisdiction.
The Treaty, signed in 1877, was not a surrender of land or sovereignty but rather a negotiated arrangement that recognized Mitaushin (Grandfather) Aranazhi (Stands On Top or Stands On Top the Earth), as Hûga (Leader), pre-existing rights to his territory.
The Crown's role was to secure a relationship based on mutual respect, with promises of protection and provision of resources, but it did not extinguish Mitaushin (Grandfather) Aranazhi (Stands On Top or Stands On Top the Earth), as Hûga (Leader), legal authority over his lands, governance, and way of life.
Mitaushin (Grandfather) Aranazhi (Stands On Top or Stands On Top the Earth), as Hûga (Leader), retained the right to govern his people, manage resources, and maintain his tribes’ customs and laws, as stipulated by their traditional systems.
However, the imposition of colonial structures, including the assertion of Crown jurisdiction through provincial and federal policies, has often been in tension with the sovereignty and legal jurisdiction of the First Nations as recognized by their own systems of law and governance.
This ongoing conflict highlights the need for a full understanding and respect for the Alexis’ legal jurisdiction as part of the broader conversation on Treaty Rights.
Indian Affairs records indicate that Mitaushin (Grandfather) Aranazhi (Stands On Top or Stands On Top the Earth), as Hûga (Leader), held power from August 21, 1877, to October 10, 1891; however, he remained the Alexis People’s Chief until the day he died, October 31, 1913.
Prepared by Stephanie Alexis (Mini Aweya Wiya), Treaty Researcher, Alexis Heritage & Language
