Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press
First Nations in Alberta are demanding Premier Danielle Smith stop stoking talk of separation from Canada, saying it’s a breach of their treaty right, and they have asked newly-elected Prime Minister Mark Carney to “get the province of Alberta in line.”
The Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation and Mikisew First Nation posted on their social media a letter addressed to Ms. Smith dated April 30, calling her statements and actions irresponsible and breaches of Treaties 6, 7, and 8 between Alberta and the Cree and First Nations across the province.
“If you or any Canadians are not happy living on Treaty lands, they are free to apply for citizenship elsewhere,” states the letter signed by Chief Sheldon Sunshine and Chief Billy-Joe Tuccarro of Sturgeon Lake and Mikisew, respectively. “We demand that you immediately step down from this conduct.”
Another letter from the leaders addressed to the newly-elected Prime Minister offers a quick congratulations before asking him to address the situation.
“We are not prepared to accept any further Treaty breaches and violations,” the letter states.
Their letters are a response to Ms. Smith’s push for a bill that would make it easier for Albertans to force a provincial referendum.
The proposed bill would include changes that would allow any resident to submit and petition proposed ideas for initiatives, legislation and referendums.
Ms. Smith told media Thursday the act doesn’t breach any treaties.
“Any Albertan can put an idea forward on any topic, and if they’re able to get the number of signatures, then it would go to a vote, and that includes a vote of members of First Nations and we encourage Indigenous peoples to participate in the process,” the Premier said.
While Ms. Smith said she won’t lead any efforts for a referendum on the province leaving the Confederation, she also wouldn’t get in any would-be separatists’ way of doing so.
First Nations across the country are reminding both federal and provincial governments of the treaty agreements between the Crown and nations that they say haven’t been honoured as they demand to be included at tables that involve decision-making related to lands, resources, rights and title.
Treaty lawyer expert Bruce McIvor says the treaty agreements and relationships between the Crown and nations in Alberta is fundamental to understand because it was established before the province even existed.
“Alberta doesn’t have the legal right to make arbitrary decisions about Indigenous lands,” Mr. McIvor said in an interview.
He said it’s the view of many Treaty First Nations that they never gave up their lands or rights to it.
“They never surrendered them. They entered into a relationship with the Crown, the Queen’s representatives. It’s not open to Johnny Come Lately, Alberta to arbitrarily decide that it will ask current citizens whether they want to leave Confederation,” Mr. McIvor said.
NDP MLA Brooks Arcand-Paul slammed any suggestion of separating without the full consent of First Nations, telling the legislature this week that First Nations in Alberta want their treaties honoured and sovereignty respected.
“Any path to separation must include meaningful negotiation with First Nations, something this government has no mandate, no plan and no legitimacy to do,” the shadow minister for Indigenous Relations said.
“I will never, ever vote for separatism because this is and always will be Indian land,” Mr. Arcand-Paul said.
The United Conservative Party is expected to have a caucus meeting Friday to discuss what the future of the party looks like under Mr. Carney, while Ms. Smith assures Albertans the party is working to protect the province “against future hostile acts from Ottawa.”