It was a day of celebration in Saddle Lake on Wednesday as community members, dignitaries, elders and a number of other individuals gathered at the water treatment facility to officially open the new, high-tech plant.
Efforts to upgrade the water treatment plant have been ongoing for nearly two decades. Saddle Lake Cree Nation Chief Eddy Makokis praised past leaders and councillors for their part in the new facility.
“There’s a lot of work that has been done here,” said Makokis, as he spoke to those gathered. He noted that it was “really difficult to keep battling every day,” but, when $13 million was finally announced for the project about three years ago through the Canada Economic Action Plan and the First Nations Water and Wastewater Action Plan, it made it all worthwhile.
“Water is one of the biggest parts of our lives,” said the chief, a sentiment that was echoed by other speakers throughout the day.
The morning event began with a traditional pipe ceremony, which included individuals from the First Nation community, but also included individuals from different government organizations and private groups who helped in the creation of the treatment plant.
The crowd was invited to enter the facility and take a tour prior to a quick ribbon cutting ceremony. Because the project originally began many years ago, a number of the elders who were originally involved with the Saddle Lake Water Keepers have passed on, including one of the founding members, Howard Cardinal.
In his place to speak was Howard’s wife, Jean, who offered a few words to the crowd in Cree. On hand to translate was Carl Quinn.
Jean spoke about how her husband worked tirelessly to better the quality of the water. He would go to the plant whenever he was called, even late at night when his wife had no idea where he was going.
Howard was thinking about the future, he was thinking about the young children and he was thinking about those not yet born, Jean said.
For full story, see the Journal on Tuesday.