An Alberta First Nation says it aims to defy Premier Danielle Smith’s government by establishing a safe haven for gender-affirming medical care — contrary to provincial law.
The Saddle Lake Cree Nation, located northeast of Edmonton near St. Paul, says health care is a right under Treaty 6 and falls under its inherent jurisdiction.
The First Nation has invoked the “medicine chest clause” provision from the treaty signed in 1876, which Indigenous Peoples interpret as a promise to provide comprehensive health care.
“All children, including trans and two-spirit children and their family, will have safety under our treaty,” Saddle Lake Chief Dale Steinhauer said on Wednesday.
Late last year, Smith’s United Conservative Party government used the Charter’s notwithstanding clause to shield its law from court challenges.
The law prohibits doctors from prescribing puberty blockers or hormone therapy to transgender and gender diverse children under 16.
The premier has said it’s about protecting children and their fertility.
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Steinhauer says they won’t stand by while basic human rights and life-saving health services are denied.
There’s been a series of public disagreements between several Alberta First Nations and the UCP government, Mount Royal University political analyst Lori Williams pointed out, and this move adds to the division.
“There have been negative comments made by both premier and senior members of our staff that were disrespectful of Indigenous people in the province, disrespectful of their rights and freedoms — their Constitutional rights — and even of their way of life,” Williams said.
“Unfortunately, those kinds of comments make it more difficult to have cooperative or collaborative relationships.”
LGBTQ2S+ advocates like Senator Kristopher Wells applaud the First Nation’s move.
“I commend Saddle Lake Cree Nation for following the evidence, science, and traditional teachings in providing inclusive barrier-free access to gender-affirming care for youth and families,” said Wells.
He was previously a professor at the University of Alberta and MacEwan University, along with Canada Research Chair for the public understanding of sexual and gender minority youth.
“Access to essential health care services without discrimination is a fundamental Charter and human right,” Wells said.
“I hope other First Nations will follow this important leadership.”
The nation says it’s working to attract clinicians to provide care on reserve land, and it’s fundraising to develop its health law and defend it against potential legal challenges.
The clinicians will be exempt from sanctioning by their health regulatory bodies, the Saddle Lake Cree Nation said.
Bunch of pedos in Sattle lake it sounds like. Let kids be kids you weirdos
D Smith go back to your mother country, take all the white racist 🐖🐖🐖🐖🐖🐖🐖🐖 pigs with you.
Ok, if it is on the Rez. Naturally, they will use native medical technology as it was when the Treaty was signed.
But once again the Indian hypocrisy rises up. One day they are part of Alberta and demand cash. Then the next day, they are an independent nation and will do what they want.
Today? Who knows, which way is the wind blowing.
My thanks to the Saddle Lake First Nation. This is what leadership looks like.
Put them in jail and throw away the key
The treaty says that they have access to the proctors medicine chest. They have no treaty rights to decide their health care. They are federal, but must follow Provincial Health rules. They can interpret it however they want, but they must follow the treaty as written.
BTW: It is not gender affirming. It is gender changing.
Lori: They are disrespectful of our rights and the freedoms of their children. – their way of life never supported the alphabet soup gang an grooming. Access to dangerous activities has never been a fundamental Charter and human right.
Maybe we should be following the treaty and withholding all funding until they follow the treaty. How about withholding all non-critical health care. Any health professional who goes rogue as the Saddle Lake Indian Band wants will be sanctioned by their health regulatory bodies. They will lose the ability to practice in Alberta and be subject to lawsuits.
Let’s have some common sense here. – Training for Chiefs would be a start.
Good for the Saddle Lake Cree Nation!
Kinanâskomitinâwâw!
It’s not our job to play along with the fairytales of the gender benders.
Extreme gender ideology should be banned.
Good for them. Gender-affirming care for minors, including puberty-blockers, is neither experimental nor destroying anyone’s life. When people tell you who they are, believe them. That goes for children, too.
They have that kind of power and this is what they choose to use it for? Disgusting.
Wow, truly disgusting and evil. Clearly no braincells. This is child abuse. Stop experimenting and destroying kids lives.