A war of words between First Nations chiefs and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith continues to escalate with no sign of either side backing down.
In an interview with Global News on Thursday, the Grand Chief of Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta, Trevor Mercredi, defended a call for the premier to be investigated for treason and said chiefs from treaties 6, 7 and 8 will be meeting with the RCMP to discuss their demand.
Among their concerns are the premier’s “disrespect of Indigenous treaty rights that are entrenched in the Constitution,” her decision to hold a referendum in October that could kickstart the process of Alberta’s separation from Canada, and the UCP government’s push for a new pipeline to the West Coast without “healthy discussions” involving First Nations.
“It’s quite concerning to have a premier that’s publicly diminishing our rights at every news conference,” said Mercredi.
Asked about the chief’s call for an investigation into possible treason, Smith said, during an unrelated press conference in Calgary on Wednesday, that the chiefs should “check themselves,” adding “this kind of overwrought language has no place in a democracy.”
In a press release issued on Wednesday, the Assembly of Treaty Chiefs (AOTC), representing treaties 6, 7 and 8, announced they had “unanimously passed a resolution” calling for an investigation by the RCMP and auditor general into the actions of the premier and members of the United Conservative Party (UCP) to determine if they constitute treason under section 46 of the Criminal Code of Canada.
“We consider this a very serious matter here in Alberta — the talk about separation and the outside interference coming from the United States and other areas — and we feel that, you know, it’s time to call on the RCMP to investigate the possibility of treason,” said Mercredi, who added, “Maybe we’ll be asking for a resignation as well.”
“Does it fit the legal definition of treason? I’m not too sure. We’re not too sure yet. That’s what we want to find out,” said Mercredi.
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“But we have to use that strong wording because of the fact that when you’re starting to tear apart treaties, tear apart the Constitution, that, you know, basically binds Canada. We have to really take a serious look at what’s happening here. It’s not child’s play. There’s real impacts to this,” Mercredi added.
“You know, there’s so much going wrong here in Alberta and this is not the way to handle it. We have our issues with the Canadian government — we always have, we have issues with Alberta — but this is the way not to move forward. This is not way to garner support for the issues that we have. You know we have to be collaborative, we have talk and we have to sit. And none of that is happening.”
Mercredi also took issue with a social media post by the premier’s chief of staff, Rob Anderson, who called the chiefs’ call for an investigation “a dark path that we see in third world banana republics.”
“It’s too bad that the premier has to resort to these types of words and allowing her staff to put out social media and calling the treaty chiefs a banana republic. That’s something that we expect from her,” Mercredi added.
The UCP government refused to offer any further response to the chief’s demands on Thursday, instead referring Global News to the premier’s Wednesday press conference when Smith appeared to back her chief of staff by calling the chiefs’ demands for a treason investigation “disgraceful.”
“I think it’s disgraceful that any government that wants to be taken seriously would level the charges that serious against another government,” Smith said.
“I’ve had my differences with the federal government, but I have never used language like that. That language has no place in this democratic discussion.”
In an interview with Global News, Mount Royal University political science professor Lori Williams said there has been “unhelpful language” coming from both sides.
“Indigenous leadership as well as by Danielle Smith. Her musings about renegotiating Section 35 seemed quite disrespectful of Indigenous treaty rights that are entrenched in the Constitution. Her comments about potentially using the critical infrastructure legislation to counter protests that might emerge, again, in the face of fairly speculative discussions about where things might go from here, I thought that that rhetoric was unhelpful,” said Williams.
“I think also that this discussion of treason is unhelpful, particularly since we’re not talking about an actual policy, but rather the exploration of a policy.”
Williams said both respect and tone of the language being used is important, but “it has to be across the board” and respect “different points of view.”
She also expects such discussions to become more challenging over the coming months as the date for the fall referendum approaches.
“We’re in an atmosphere now where particularly in the digital space, people are not respectful. There’s a lot of name-calling, vitriol, even threats that happen in that environment and so that’s why it’s all the more important for particularly leaders to set a different tone, to respond — even if such language is used against them — to respond in a more positive way.
Striking what appeared to be a more positive tone, Mercredi said First Nations are “looking forward — to be true partners to be part of this push to rebuild Canada.”
“They can’t do it without our nations. They need our nations. We have the key, and we’re looking to be a part of it.”
Instead of “Banana Republic” how about “Bannok Republic” ?
Definitely more culturally appropriate and we can file it as an alternative definition.
@ Anonymous. Da comrade, me part of former Soviet propaganda group. We are coming for you to be put in Work Camp.
More wasted taxpayer money just because someone actually stands up and speaks the truth
War of words with everybody is Smith.
Now she backstabbed her separatist voters.
D is a Russian .
I demand the RCMP investigate these Chiefs for fraud against their communities. So many millions go into these reservations and yet the residents, not related to these Chiefs, live in abject poverty.
No group is going to jump off the big gravy train, to end up on a little one.
We just gave them millions for their tourism and other programs. Stop all provincial funding of these programs! If they don’t want their people to prosper, that’s on them.
Global is a joke only post views and comments that they align with , imagine if they posted story’s of how sick Canadians are of these ,”professional begers”
They need to be reminded that our democratically elected officials run the province, they do not .
FN are afraid of losing their welfare cheques from hard working taxpayers is what it boils down to. Sick to death of their demands from Ontario. Make them get audited Danielle. They get 1 vote like everyone else. Go Alberta Go.
Anyone want to tell them that “Sunshine’s” in this case should be 2 seperate words?
Seems to me the Chiefs have taken what was a lot of public good will on this issue and through completely ridiculous statements to the media, squandered it entirely to the point now, they might as well be campaigning for the independence side because they’re highlighting the insane relationship Canada has with the Indigenous peoples.
Problem isn’t with Smith it is with the Supreme Court of Canada that created the Clarity Act. Why aren’t the chiefs demanding the members of the Supreme Court to be charged with treason?
The chiefs take all that good government money that is given they don’t want that to stop how they love Canada
The chiefs are delusional
Let the people have their vote
Countries all over the world split up all the time throughout history.
This country is already considered 670 nations by 3% of the population
Mass delusion is the liberal canadian way
Now bend over tax payers
Smith sure knows how to have referendums. LOL.
What a twat.
Isn’t Smith Cherokee like she said?
kudos Danielle Smith .
British Columbia ! Yikes
Show them money and they’ll bend over and spread
Those so-called “chiefs” are just a bunch of incompetent grifters who are stealing taxpayers money.
The feathered ones really believe that whatever they demand they have the right to receive it.
And the demands get wilder and wilder.
Enough. That which cannot continue will not continue. Enough.
Time for the hate laws to kick in. Time to arrest the leaders of the natives for promoting haterid.
The natives are not partners, they are citizens of Canada. Imagine what money we would save if their reserves simply were absorbed.
Williams is confused. Smith was countering the Natives announcement of plans to use civil disobedience. She just pointed out that such action would be clearly illegal and would be dealt with. – Notice that they are not threatening to break the law anymore…
Wow, this is absolutely ludicrous. The vote is only if there SHOULD BE a vote. This is not a separation vote so no need to consult. If the vote to have a vote is successful THEN the duty to consult is enforced by law. Must be drinking the Nenshi Kool aid.
all those indiginous casino’s in Alberta that are allowed to smoke cigarettes in,……….is that federally or provincially mandated? Asking for a friend. Also, do those indian owned casino’s pay tax?
Canada owes FNs nothing
Smith shoud be investigating them
There.is a reason they are terrified to have their financial.reports made public.
So basically Goebbels news et al have been instructed by chairman mao carney to attack Danielle.
And the most corrupt Chief of them all is Chief Allan Adams. Paid a huge salary for a reserve that houses approximately 250-270 members. Pretty good gig for this (&())_(*(&()_(.
Stick to your guns, Danielle!
this is what happens when you don’t have to get a job or work for anything. and everything is handed to you. you become DEMANDING
Premier Danielle Smith. please turn the tables. get them investigated!! i am sure we all know what we will find!!
chiefs and their councils are given millions of dollars a year but their people live in shacks with busted out windows , and they cant afford to get $20,000 dollar to get a wells drilled for drinking water. most of the homeless population are native, Their chiefs are getting to cocky , obviously a bribe form the liberal government must be offered
Smith is the Premier. now its time for her to get the fist Nations chiefs and their councils investigated for eruption and stealing money