MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release

September 30, 2026‍

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Treaty Day 2026 marks 40 years of celebration and 300 years of the Treaty of 1726

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KJIPUKTUK, N.S. — Mi’kmaq and Nova Scotians will come together Thursday, October 1, to mark Treaty Day 2026, a day to recognize and renew the relationship between the Mi’kmaq and the Crown and the enduring importance of the treaties of peace and friendship.

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This year’s Treaty Day carries particular significance as it marks 40 years since Kji Saqmaw Donald Marshall Sr. invited Mi’kmaq and Nova Scotians to observe October 1 as Treaty Day, as well as the 300th anniversary of the Treaty of 1726, signed at Fort Anne.

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The Treaty Day observances will begin with a Mi’kmaw church service at Saint Mary’s Cathedral Basilica, followed by a Government House Flag Raising and Reception. The Veterans Parade of Honour will then proceed from Government House to Peace and Friendship Park for the Treaty Day Ceremony.

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The day will conclude with the Treaty Day Awards and a dinner at Pier 21’s Kenneth C. Rowe Hall & Chrysler Canada Pavilion, recognizing Mi’kmaw Elders, youth, students, and community members for their contributions to their communities and to Mi’kma’ki.

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Reflecting on the significance of Treaty Day and the 40^th anniversary of its proclamation, Kji Saqmaw Norman Sylliboy, Grand Chief of the Mi’kmaq Grand Council, said:

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“In honour of our Ancestors, each year our Nation celebrates Our Treaty on October 1st, which was proclaimed by Grand Chief Donald Marshall in 1986. This year marks 40 years since that proclamation, and we come together in Kjipuktuk to welcome you here today as we gather to commemorate the Peace and Friendship Treaty between the Mi’kmaq Nation and Her Majesty, marking 274 years since the Treaty was signed. Angugamwe’l is a Mi’kmaq word used to describe Treaties and means ‘adding to our relations.’ Ms~t no’kmaq – all my relations – encompasses all of Creation.”

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The Treaty of 1726 is part of a longstanding treaty relationship between the Mi’kmaq and the Crown based on peace, friendship and mutual responsibility. Treaty Day provides an opportunity for Mi’kmaq and Nova Scotians to reflect on that relationship and the responsibility shared by all people to carry it forward.

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“For 300 years, the Treaties of Peace and Friendship have represented an enduring relationship between the Mi’kmaq and the Crown – one grounded in respect and a commitment to living together in peace and friendship,” said The Honourable Mike Savage, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia. “Three centuries later, that spirit endures. It is a living covenant that continues to call on all of us to listen to one another, strengthen our relationships and move forward together. May the spirit of Peace and Friendship continue to guide us as we build communities where everyone can live with dignity, respect and peace.”

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The annual Treaty Day celebration also recognizes the important contributions of Mi’kmaw Elders, whose knowledge, language, culture, traditions and teachings help guide future generations, and Mi’kmaw youth, whose leadership, education, advocacy and community service are helping build strong communities.

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“The Covenant Chain of Treaties are living agreements, rooted in history, culture and survival,” said Saqmaw Leroy Denny, Co-Chair, Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs. “Today, we recognize and celebrate our Treaties, and acknowledge how they must be honoured and respected each and every day. Our Treaties are strong, powerful and have deep meaning in the lives of Mi’kmaq.”

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Recognizing Community Contributions

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This year’s Treaty Day Awards Celebration will honour two Mi’kmaw Elders and two youth, as well as recipients of the Sister Dorothy Moore Educational Scholarship and the Donald Marshall Senior Memorial Scholarship.

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The 2026 Grand Chief Donald Marshall Sr. Memorial Elder Awards will recognize longstanding contributions to Mi’kmaw education, history, culture and community.

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The Chief Noel Doucette Memorial Youth Achievement Awards will recognize educational achievements, leadership, advocacy and contributions to community.

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The Sister Dorothy Moore Educational Scholarship recognizes commitment to education and to strengthening Mi’kmaw language, culture and student well-being.

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The Donald Marshall Sr. Memorial Scholarship recognizes dedication to post-secondary education and community service.

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‍Commemorative Treaty Medals

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The celebration will also recognize 87 recipients of the 300th Anniversary Commemorative Treaty Medal.

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Historically, Treaty Medals were presented by representatives of the Crown to Indigenous leaders as symbols of friendship and lasting connection following the conclusion of peace treaties.

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The modern commemorative medal reflects that same spirit while recognizing the shared nature of the treaty relationship. It was jointly created by the Grand Chief and the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, with 100 medals to be presented by the end of 2026.

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The medal features text in Mi’kmaw, English and French. One side, designed by Alan Sylliboy, depicts Grand Chief Henri Membertou, while the other depicts King Charles III, King of Canada.

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Treaty Day is an opportunity to honour the past while looking toward the future – recognizing Elders, celebrating youth, supporting education and acknowledging the many contributions that strengthen Mi’kmaw and Nova Scotian communities.

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As Nova Scotians gather on October 1, the 40th anniversary of Treaty Day and the 300th anniversary of the Treaty of 1726 provide an opportunity to reflect on the enduring relationship established through the Peace and Friendship Treaties and to renew the commitment to carry that relationship forward.

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We are all treaty people.

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Media Contact:

Jessica Christmas
Union of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq
Phone: 902-565-7320
Email: jessicachristmas@unsm.org

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