‘Full opposition’: Group of southern Alberta First Nations speak out against separation talk

Alberta's provincial flag flies in Ottawa, Monday July 6, 2020. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld)

A group of southern Alberta First Nations has added its voice to the province’s separation debate, cautioning against separatist sentiments.

The chiefs of Tsuut’ina Nation, Bearspaw Nation, Chiniki Nation and Goodstoney Nation released a joint statement on Friday amid the ongoing separatism debate in the province, saying First Nations will not separate.

“Any efforts to separate will be met with our full opposition,” the statement reads.

“Under our Treaties, vast areas of Alberta are held in trust by the Crown for the benefit of the Treaty First Nations, not as property of the provincial government. Our Treaty territories predate Alberta’s entry into Confederation in 1905.”

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The statement noted the frustration residents in Alberta and the Prairies are feeling, with the Chiefs relating to the feeling of being “unheard.”

Separatist sentiment in Alberta has been front and centre since the federal election on Monday, which saw the Liberal party form government – with Alberta covered almost entirely with Conservative blue.

Bill 54

Alberta’s Premier Danielle Smith has been accused of stoking the separatism debate with proposed legislation that would make it easier for citizens to call for a vote to secede from Canada.

Bill 54, if passed, would change citizen-initiated referendum rules to require a petition signed by 10 per cent of the eligible voters in a previous general election — down from 20 per cent of registered voters.

Applicants would also get 120 days, rather than 90, to collect the required 177,000 signatures.

In response to the proposed legislation, Chief Sheldon Sunshine of Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation and Mikisew Cree First Nation Chief Billy-Joe Tuccaro called on the premier to stand down, saying her statements and actions violate treaties, in a Wednesday letter.

On Thursday, the Confederacy of Treaty No. 6 First Nations said it “firmly rejects” the premier’s comments and actions regarding the possibility of separation.

“Premier Smith’s promotion of the idea of a referendum on separation is not only reckless — it is a direct violation of the treaty relationship that exists between our nations and the Crown,” the confederacy said in a statement.

“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.”

When asked for comment on Friday, the premier’s office deferred to comments Smith made on Thursday regarding the First Nations’ concerns.

“The citizen initiative act, I think, is the purest form of democracy we have and it gives all Albertans an opportunity to play a direct role in the democratic process by inviting them to have a direct say on issues their fellow citizens want to put to the people,” Smith said, during an unrelated press conference on Thursday.

“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.”

When pressed further on the possibility of a separation referendum, Smith said she would not “prejudge” what Albertans will put forward for a petition, and said the question was a “hypothetical” at this point.

“Right now, this is just enabling legislation so that any citizen is able to go out, garner signatures and if they’re successful, then I guess you can ask me to comment,” Smith said.

A petition on Change.org promoting western separation – which has been active since 2019 – has gained steam again since Monday, now with 220,000 signees.

Other petitions have also popped up to promote separation or a referendum since Monday.

“The current political climate in Canada has left many Albertans feeling disempowered and frustrated, as decisions made at the federal level often do not consider the specific circumstances and priorities of our province,” said Eric Larson, who started a petition titled “Hold a referendum for Alberta’s independence” on April 29.

Smith said she would be meeting with her caucus on Friday to discuss the province’s future and strategies to protect Alberta from “future hostile acts from Ottawa.”

With files from The Canadian Press