Treaty chiefs representing First Nations across the West say they are willing to carry out acts of civil disobedience if necessary to fight Premier Danielle Smith’s Alberta separatism vote.
And Treaty 8 Grand Chief Trevor Mercredi on Thursday renewed a call for Smith to put a stop to the upcoming referendum.
He pointed to a recent court decision that stalled a separation petition drive on the grounds Smith’s government did not fulfil its constitutional duty to consult First Nations.
“If they’re ignoring courts, ignoring the rulings, it shows to me that they are lawless,” Mercredi said of the United Conservative government.
He said First Nations have not given consent and will stop the referendum in any way they can, including getting in the way of industry, or, in his words, “going out on the highways.”
Mercredi was joined in Edmonton by Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Chief Allan Adam, Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation Chief Sheldon Sunshine, and Chief Billy Joe Laboucan of the Lubicon Lake Band.
“We are organizing and strategizing right now — it may include civil disobedience, but that is the last resort,” said Mercredi.
“There can be no decisions about Alberta separating without consultation and consent of our First Nations.”
Smith has said she supports the province staying in Canada, but that Albertans deserve the opportunity to go to the ballot box and resolve the long running debate over its role in Confederation.
Get breaking National news
On Oct. 19, Albertans will vote on whether they want to stay in Canada or start the process to hold a second, binding referendum on quitting the country.
The Treaty 8 chiefs penned an open letter to Smith’s government, demanding it halt the referendum process without full consultation and consent from Treaty 8 First Nations.
Treaty rights are the constitutionally recognized, nation-to-nation agreements signed more than a century ago between the Crown and Canada’s Indigenous peoples.
The lands of five different treaty nations fall within the boundaries of Alberta: the big three are Treaty 8, whose territory covers more than 840,000 square kilometres spanning northern Alberta, parts of the Northwest Territories, northwestern Saskatchewan and northeastern B.C.
Treaty 6 in Edmonton and central Alberta, and Treaty 7 stretching from south of Red Deer to the Canada-U.S. border. Small slivers of two other regions also stretch into Alberta: Treaty 10 near Cold Lake, and Treaty 4 east of Medicine Hat.
The treaties were signed between First Nations and the Crown, before Alberta became a province in 1905.
In the letter, Mercredi writes that the duty to consult is required by the Constitution whenever government action might adversely impact treaty rights.
“Treaty No. 8, signed in 1899, predates the province of Alberta by six years. Alberta was created in 1905 as a creature of Confederation. It entered Confederation subject to existing Treaty obligations, not above them,” the letter states.
In response to the letter, Smith’s press secretary Sam Blackett reiterated the premier’s stance that thousands of Albertans petitioned for the referendum, and the question does not trigger any duty to consult First Nations.
“We trust that Albertans will freely and openly debate this question and ultimately make the right decision for our province,” he said in a statement.
Mercredi said the debate over seceding from Canada is inciting racism against Indigenous people in their communities, pointing to people being harassed on the highway and receiving abuse online.
He said Indigenous people are being targeted for standing up for their treaty rights.
“We have a premier that has the power to stop all of this talk of separation,” he said.
Trust in the UCP, he added, has been “fundamentally ruined.”
Mercredi said it’s a national constitutional issue, and they’ll be asking the federal government to reinforce the Clarity Act, which allows Parliament to weigh in on separation questions.
Alberta’s Opposition NDP has accused Smith of ignoring the law and dragging the province into a crisis in order to appease the separatist base of her party.
“(Smith) doesn’t like having to follow what the courts have to say, and she doesn’t like following what the Constitution has to say,” said NDP deputy leader Rakhi Pancholi.
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has told Smith to, at the least, put a pause on the referendum. In Winnipeg on Thursday he said he supports the Treaty 8 chiefs in their fight.
“I think it’s great,” he said.
“There’s no need for a separation referendum.”
— With files from Ian Bickis in Winnipeg, The Canadian Press and Karen Bartko, Global News
If indigenous people dare to try civil disobedience as they have said they should be arrested and the full force of the law applied similar to what was done to the freedom convoy supporters. My advice to the indigenous chiefs is don’t open that pandora box the rest of Canada are getting a bit tired of your abusive actions. If your goal is to become the most hated group in Canada your doing a good job.
Put it to the vote and have done with it. The only people who will benefit from this ‘Tempest in a P-Pot’ will be lawyers. Over 400,000 people signed the Forever Canadian Petition, a vast majority. Those that don’t like it here have the freedom to leave, good riddance!
First people are now having to save CANADA. there is no more Canadian people than our fore family. And now we need them to once again unite Canada. The role of First people is vital to Canadian unity.
Just send them some nice warm(infected)blankets and some fire water again.Problem solved!
Really? They account for less than 6% of Alberta population. Thinking they can hold the province hostage eh? Not this day and age, time to play cowboys and indians again, both dots and feathers kind.
Natives are scared they’ll have to get a job and stop living off taxpayers money….
Entitlement knows no bounds.
All chiefs shoukd be audited. Billions of dollars per year and yet most don’t have running water.
What these Chiefs don’t realize is that 43 or 45% of their people want to separate because they don’t want to be dictated to by a Communist Liberal Prime minister.
When did these leeches on society start to think they have so much power , thanks Trudeau……your lasting g legacy handing the country to a bunch of embread cave men
No one really cares what first nations think. You get a vote when you stop being a net drain.
its to bad. first nations should be respected as first nations, but Having their chiefs condemning Albertan for wanting a better government system and democracy, is making them not popular , its doing the opposite effect with Albertans.
Alberta stays in Canada.
The idiots are more than welcome to leave though.
How much better we would all be today if the British monarch just exterminated them all when they can here like they did in the States. You never hear them complaining down there and they don’t perpetually drain the system.
The central issue is not whether Indigenous communities should be heard, but whether every major political question in Canada requires the consent of specific groups before citizens are permitted to vote on it.
In a democratic society, the legitimacy of a referendum comes from the electorate as a whole. Consultation is an important part of governance, particularly where constitutionally protected rights may be affected. However, consultation should not be confused with a veto over democratic processes.
The argument that Albertans should be prevented from even holding a referendum because certain organizations oppose the question raises serious concerns about democratic accountability. Citizens must be free to debate, discuss, and vote on matters of public importance without the principle of democracy being subordinated to competing political interests.
Canada is a country founded on equality before the law and representative government. While historical treaties and constitutional obligations must be respected, they should not be interpreted in a manner that places some groups above the democratic rights of others. Rights must be balanced with the broader principle that all citizens are entitled to participate equally in determining their political future.
Reasonable people can disagree about separation, and many will oppose it. But attempting to suppress a vote through threats of civil disobedience, economic disruption, or political pressure does not strengthen democratic institutions it weakens them. The appropriate response to an idea one disagrees with is debate and persuasion, not obstruction.
The question before Albertans is ultimately a political one, and political questions in a democracy are resolved at the ballot box.
The disrespectful and UNEDUCATED comments stated here against first nations is disgusting and needs to be addressed
Smith’s response to consult the referendum notion with first nations speaks volumes of contempt and disregard to honor section 35 of the charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Smith has also partitioned Carney to amend the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to manipulate section 35. This request begs the question in regards to political dealings or lack there of with first nations “when are political figures going to stop stripping first nations peoples of their resources and territories to fund Alberta, when is it enough”? The charter states “will not ABROGATE OR DEGROGATE but Smith must not understand or perhaps she has never read the charter.
its amazing what power the gravy train has,, maybe they should all go get jobs like everyone else
Stephanie is a liberal bot
This is what happens when you grow up and don’t have to get a job or work for anything, and its handed to you . you became demanding
they should know first hand about disobedience since the prisons are full of them
Treaties 6, 7 & 8 permanently relinquish control of all of the land in Alberta to the crown… forever.
The Alberta Act states that indigenous rights can not be altered in the event of separation.
They have no argument.
They’re complaining about things that are already looked after.
They’re just making noise.
Audit the chiefs.
Theres not enough of them sober to accomplish anything. Just look at downtown Edmonton. Are you rallying the crackheads?
That will be followed by jail. Have fun.
These Chiefs and their bands of merry men are now threatening Canadians? Well this is a great way to cause a huge uprising in Canada. The native fatigue is real and boiling over. So many Canadians are still waiting for proof of the “mass graves” instead of just the hearsay they are spewing across the country! Our government is now trying to pass a bill making it illegal to refuse the native narrative! Sure would have been great if the Spanish first landed!! We wouldn’t be seeing these issues at all! The Brits were too dam worried about dipping there carrots into the hummus!!
Awee, this is like my daughter playing with her easy bake oven and pretending to be a chef. How cute do they look in their little outfits pretending to have any power over us, adorable!
They are children playing dress up and make believe with the tree spirits. Of course they go right to violence when they don’t get their way
How many of us would it take to legally invalidate the referendum by all / most of us that do not even want such a question in the first place – just don’t vote in the farcical referendum – boycott the Luddites!! It’s a serious question? It could work?
And of course, by civil disobedience they mean the idiot interpretation of violating laws.
chiefs are a small fringe minority with unacceptable views.
All Albertans should engage in civil disobedience until the government calls a general election. The UCP is literally running the province into the ground and blaming Ottawa. How many more tax dollars have to go down the toilet to appease these separatist traitors?
An arrow between smiths eyes would be a good start
Hearing the MAGAtard separatists cry about this is like music to my ears 🤣🤣
Oka 2.0. I’m getting popcorn. Just 1 week of shutting down access to industrial sites will cost millions in lost revenue. Love the FN!
So, I’m confused here, FNs always proclaim they’re an independent/ sovereign nation but now they’re all of a sudden feel “oh so Canadian”?
There should be ZERO consultation with these freeloaders who contribute NOTHING to Alberta’s economy.
Where is Eby saying we shouldnt give in to bad behavior? oh wait, he is under the leadership of the FN bands.
California protesters closed the Golden Gate Bridge for 4 hours. They are now subject to 15 years in prison.
Stop ALL provincial tax dollars funding their programs. Civil disobedience? FAFO.
Why oppose? Its because the federal government has transferred an estimated $3.5 billion to $5 billion into the Treaty 8 region since 2021.
If they want to have civil disobedience and disrupt industry, these are threats/acts of terrorism. Then, simply, strip them of their so called status and then put then all in jail. No other country in the World would put up with this.
Im sorry, we need to stop this indigenous nonsence. With all respect, that community exists because of the society the settlers created. Racism works both ways. Wake up.
A duty to consult, yes, consent required, no
Have the chiefs consulted with the First Nations People?
The millionaire chiefs will lose a lot of money if Alberta separates
Alberta is a large land mass, why not make a reservation for the people who want to separate from Canada, call it the “UnCanadian People’s Republic”.
Really kind of pathetic, and the failure of the media to calm the waters is almost criminal. The SCC made it clear that before any recognition of separation, IF a “clear majority” votes in favor of separation – not simply 51% – indigenous people must not only be consulted, they are required to negotiate assurances that treaty rights will not be abrogated.
Also being ignored is that this is not a referendum on separation. It’s a vote to ask Albertans IF they want a formal referendum because Ottawa judges refuse to respect the Petition process (no surprise.)
So – grifters grifting here – the usual, so-called “leaders” rage baiting, because it’s easier to complain than to roll up their sleeves to address the deplorable reality of their own so-called “nations.”
He’s worried he’ll lose his payday.
FN contribute nothing [ not ONE body has been dug up ] yet billions wasted , demand everything , as long as it contributes to their continued stealing of taxpayer dollars freely and willingly handed over by the Liberals corrupt government that duped Canada with a Trudeau look alike regarding politics in Carney
Worry they’ll lose the gravy train?
Just send a couple 2-4’s to each rez.
That’ll keep ’em distracted.
Basically threatening violence here.
Where on earth can this be allowed without severe consequences.
If these acts occur it will be very difficult to walk this back and plead innocence. The chiefs are basically telling their people it is ok to hurt and destroy.
We have two very different people groups here, those who give and those who take. Our federal government (mostly lib and NDP) have made this their mandate for many years now and as a result we have become racist to one another.
There used to be a time when this was not so and we lived alongside each other in peace but this is not the case anymore.
People are tired of giving and giving only to be punished.
The Manitoban premiere has played a part in this and his hands are dirty here.
We are at a tipping point now and we will see where this goes.
The indigenous are scared about their hunting and fishing rights being lost if Alberta separates. I think the chiefs are scared of losing millions of dollars of taxpayers money if Alberta gains independence.
Civil disobedience? The first nations will get a civil kick in the butt.
Maybe the indigenous will move out of Alberta if Alberta gains independence so they can stay on the Federal Government gravy train?
So the indigenous either gets their way or civil war? Sorry but the indigenous are not the masters over Alberta.
Imagine being born into a bloodline that basically gives you the right to not pay for your individual cost of living. To not have to go to work or make money for a house, and to just have everything given to you because of a bleeding heart government. Now imagine having kids and their cost of living is also free. This is indigenous Canadians and I refuse the whole “intergenerational trauma” bit. Why can’t white people revoke their obligation to capitalism too? Why is this just a native thing?
Civil disobedience should be used on the chiefs and councils for sealing millions of dollars the feds give them , they can go do a pound sand dance with thair rejection to separation, Nobody cares if they get a check or not,,
Oh now they love Canada and the treaties they signed. Pick a lane and stay in it.
Having the option to post only one view-point “There’s no need for a separation referendum.” to X goes against basic journalism standards. Don’t be biased and put an option for both points of view.
Interesting, civil disobedience is breaking the law. So, just an ordinary day?
You have 1 vote just like me. Use it wisely.
bring it on
Since when do they think they control all that land. With the treaties, they gave up the land for the defined reservations. But now the believe they still control all the lands they wandered around on. Sorry Chiefs, you only get your designated reservations to abuse your own members on. However you can join the new separated Alberta as a regular citizen.
Don’t like it, then build a land bridge and go back to asia. Lol
Free loaders scared they won’t get their free money well doing nothing to help the province!
Civil disobedience? Vandalism? No problem, the solution is jail. A place most of these reconsil warriors have spent time in.
Really? Alright. Thats a threat. Thank you very much. Civil disobedience? Okdokie azzhole. You feathered b*rdbrains really want this?
I think most of Canada was waiting for the chance to make you eat your words.
The Chiefs seem to like the courts. Take this question to the courts then.
Get a phuzcking job!
Oh no. Lines of Indians in fent poses on the highway?
The Indians are just scared the gravy train will stop. They are, and have always been, useless, lazy leeches getting billions from Canadian taxpayers.
Just imagine what would happen if each special interest group resorted to these tactics each time they didn’t get exactly what they wanted. Democracy would be impossible.
Glenn Pardy, learn English more better before pretend you to be Canadian.
Is this a threat to Governor smith for doing everything in her power to push ahead with a seperatists agenda and referendum while ignoring fn ?
Plug plug
Plug plug!
Alberta should not be aloud to separate…send them to the states to live Canada to stay as one
So what are they really going to do more of the same as always 🤷🏻♂️
It’s called extortion chief.
Arrests and incarceration should follow along. Enough is enough.
Giving more reason to Vote For Independence…
Oh my….
To be honest…….I am sick and tired of those FN leaches (aka living on the working population of Ab. & Canada) being able to get the mainstream media to give them the exposure thinking they are in charge! If our politicians would would grow some gonads and treat them like the low life leaches they are and who are Not In Any Position to call any shots then then entire economy and our prosperity would flourish. Just saying.
Remember, no sympathy after while the consequences follow,hope fully incarceration
Civil disobedience – another word for breaking the law. There is a law on the books that makes encouraging breaking the law illegal. See the Freedom Convoy leaders… – why is the law not applying to the Native leaders???
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew should not be given special treatment. He is advocating breaking the law also…
Mercredi is confused. It is not a national constitutional issue. Those are the other points Smith is asking for support on. This is simply a vote to look into separation. It will not pass, but it should be allowed to happen. Exactly the same as Quebec. No native involvement.
There is nothing in the treaty that would prevent the Dominion of Canada from assigning the treaties to the new country. Keep in mind in 1947, we ceased being British citizens, and started to be Canadians. Everything can change. – Hopefully that applies to the Senate.
How can a referendum to have a referendum on a referendum need consultation?
How can this FN group of people be allowed to stop a group of citizens to hold a democratic question that does not come from the government? The government is not involved in this referendum. Smith has already stated there would be consultation before the real referendum.
You can’t just stop people from thinking or asking for something that is most likely in their best interests! That is against the law as they are threatening.
” We will disrupt industry, and go out on the highways”…
Better hope you don’t park cars on highways and honk your horns…..I hear the Federal government likes to declare emergencies act to prevent threats to Canada’s security….oh wait…your good….wrong demographic.
The premier should run a pilot of what a separate Alberta looks like. From health care, schools, tarrifs, policing, army, taxes, etc. Put together 500 of the separatists, and build the framework. Run it like a project with frequent status updates.
Include data on anticipated number of people who will leave AB to remain in Canada (other provinces), such as health care workers, teachers, hospitality workers, Frontline workers, etc. Try it b4 you buy it!
Defy democracy or we riot? That shows the commitment expected out of Truty and Reconciliation. Hope you enjoy the taste of truncheon
Civil disobedience? Throw them in jail
Also, our first nations are making egregious miscalculations.
The CBC may impose your views regardless of acceptance and block all free commentary on the matter but if the Indian Act, and the decisions made by our colonial era counterparts are maybe failures however well intentioned it may have been to allow indigenous populations to coexist and maintain their traditions.
Maybe the Indian Act, is keeping our Indigenous population down. Its making them dependent instead of the independence they seemingly would prefer.
You know what you can now do in Canada as a full citizen? Hold and practice your own belief system within a common and international understanding of law. That was not true in 1867 but it is true today, or was before the New Liberal Party of dystopia.
Seems like that would be direct Federal interference.
If they want to protest, they should protest the federal government for not respecting or representing all people’s of Canada.
Time to have a civil war and send them back to their teepee
The Indigenous people believe that they are in charge.