Cold Lake, AB – Council will be sponsoring $10,000 toward the Treaty 1-11 Gathering, coming to Cold Lake in August 2024.

The Treaty 1-11 Gathering is a significant event that aims to celebrate and strengthen the cultural ties and shared history among the Indigenous peoples of the Treaty 1-11 nations. The Gathering aims to honour, respect, and protect the Treaty way of life, while bringing together communities across Turtle Island. Through ceremonies, discussions, and cultural activities, participants will reaffirm their dedication to preserving traditions and values for future generations.

Coming in at the “Bear” level of sponsorship, the funds will be coming from Council Goodwill after a short discussion about the amount.

“Cold Lake First Nations hosts a lot of great events in our community,” said Mayor Craig Copeland. “We wanted to make sure we are supporting them to the best of our ability, while leaving room for other funding requests.”

While funding for this event would normally fall under the Community, Recreation, Arts, Culture, and Heritage Investment (CRACH) Grant, council opted earlier during the meeting to change the criteria for government organizations, and allow them to go directly to council for funding requests instead of having to apply through the grant.

“With this change in place, Cold Lake First Nations isn’t limited to one application to the CRACH Grant per year, and together we can work to bring multiple celebrations and events to the Lakeland,” said Copeland.

The next deadline for the CRACH Grant will be July 4, 2024. More information on grant funding options can be found at www.coldlake.com/grants

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