First Nations chief calls Smith’s referendum comments ‘reckless’

Article content

The Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations is weighing in on talks of separatism and calling Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s “promotion” of the idea of a referendum “reckless.”

Talks of separatism have regained steam after the federal election and are being pushed further after Smith’s government tabled legislation that, if passed, would lower the threshold for citizen initiatives to call for a referendum.

Article content

Grand Chief Greg Desjarlais of the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations, in a statement on Thursday night, called on Smith to “abandon this dangerous rhetoric” and for her to recognize that treaty obligations “are not optional.” He added the treaty relationship between First Nations and the Crown cannot be “dismissed or overridden by separatist ambition.”

“Let us be absolutely clear: our nations do not and will never consent to the separation of our treaty territories. These lands were never ceded, nor surrendered,” Desjarlais said.

The grand chief said Smith’s recent comments and actions regarding Alberta potentially separating from Canada are a violation of the treaty relationship between First Nations and the Crown.

Smith says legislation does not breach treaty rights

Chief Sheldon Sunshine of Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation and Mikisew Cree Nation Chief Billy-Joe Tuccaro accused Smith in their cease-and-desist letter from April 30 of making “irresponsible statements” and said the actions are in breach of Treaties No. 6, 7 and 8.

Article content

Article content

“Alberta did not exist when our ancestors agreed to share the land with the Crown. The province has no authority to supersede or interfere with our treaties, even indirectly by passing the buck to a ‘citizen’ referendum,” the letter said.

Smith, at a press conference on Thursday, responded to letters from two other First Nations chiefs accusing her that the proposed legislation does not breach treaty rights.

“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,” she said.

Leaders of four First Nations in Southern Alberta have weighed in saying “First Nations will not separate” and efforts to separate will be met with “full opposition.”

The statement from Friday is signed by Chief Roy Whitney of Tsuut’ina Nation, Chief Darcy Dixon of Bearspaw Nation, Chief Aaron Young of Chiniki Nation and Chief Clifford Poucette of Goodstoney First Nation.

Article content

‘People trying to stir the pot’

Indigenous Relations Minister Rick Wilson told reporters on Thursday that the province is advocating for a sovereign Alberta within a united Canada and has made the position clear when speaking with chiefs, adding he respects the treaties.

“If somebody else is saying something different, that’s just people trying to stir the pot, and there’s a lot of that going on right now. I mean, the mothership has crashed for the NDP and they’re looking for issues out there,” Wilson said.

Alberta NDP Indigenous relations critic Brooks Arcand-Paul said he’s heard from chiefs across the province who are standing solid against talks of separation and said Smith needs to “say no to separatism.”

“We need her to stay firm and say that she stands with the chiefs that Alberta will never be separated from the rest of Canada. The treaties are formational to this province, and she needs to remember that they have an obligation to their constituents, the First Nations, with respect to how we move this forward,” Arcand-Paul said.

Article content

— With files from The Canadian Press and Matthew Black

ctran@postmedia.com

@kccindytran