This morning on the Poundmaker Cree Nation near Cut Knife, the Prime Minister is delivering a statement of exoneration for Chief Poundmaker. It is a community ceremony. The event is taking place at Chief Poundmaker Historical Centre.

Throughout the day various ministers from the Trudeau cabinet will also be in attendance including Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Ralph Goodale, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Carolyn Bennett, and Minister of Indigenous Services Seamus O’Regan.

But in addition to that official government presence, the former Chief of Poundmaker Cree Nation and USask Chancellor Emeritus Blaine Favel invited 52 students currently enrolled in USask’s Native Law Centre Summer Program.

Later Thursday afternoon, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will deliver remarks and participate in a question and answer session at the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations National Annual General Assembly.

Chief Poundmaker was known for speaking out against Treaty 6 and at the Battle of Cut Knife Hill stopped warriors from going after soldiers and killing them. Chief Poundmaker was tried for treason and imprisoned. He was released because of poor health but died a few months later in July, 1886.