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.
This is so simple , God created man and women period , he didn’t create transgenders and all the other genders , just man and women period. All it’s happening now and like people think is mental illness. Also I haven’t seen a comment section on the white duds protestin in Kamloops yesterday , please let me know if there is one .
Jack asks:
What is treaty 6 and who came up with it?
The reason people like Jack are completely ignorant of what Treaty 6 is and where it originated from: Is
because it was never taught in schools in Canada. In a perfect world, all immigrants/colonizer peoples arriving in Canada since the creation of Canada in 1867, should have been taught why the treaties were signed and why they are important to the “legal” existence of Canada. So with respect, here is a history lesson for Jack, and indeed all Albertans and Canadians.
In 1763, the Royal Proclamation of 1763 was issued by the British Crown that required the colonies (pre Canada) to recognize and respect the sovereign nations already living here and the lands belonging to them, (Time immemorial). The Royal Proclamation of 1763 is still valid law and a founding document of the Constitution of Canada (the British North America Act (BNA), 1867.
So when the nation state of Canada was created in 1867, (104 years after 1763), the “legal” creation of Canada could only happen by the signing of Treaties with the Nations already existing here since time immemorial.
Get it Jack, are you with me?
Therefore, the creation of Canada gave rise to a chicken and egg question: Which came first; the chicken or the egg? At the end of the day, the answer don’t matter; they both exist!
Likewise, when Canada sprung into existence on July 1, 1867, the laws of the British Crown required the signing of Treaties with the sovereign nations already here. Get it Jack?
So Canada had to exist in order to sign the Treaties, therefore one created the other and vice versa: the Treaties legally created Canada. And it don’t matter which comes first, the creation of Canada or the creation of the Treaties; they both exist and both hold equal importance to each other’s existence; forever! Like the chicken and the egg. Right Jack?
Likewise, Canada had to recognize the pre Confederation Treaties already in existence signed by colonies pre 1867 and as required by the Royal Proclamation of 1763.
Therefore, the new state of Canada wanted to expand west, before the USA claimed the whole west. The 1870s saw the signing of Treaties 1-11 because it was and still is, a legal obligation of Canada to do so. Treaties 1-11 cover the land mass from northwest Ontario to the Rocky Mountains to the Northwest Territories. Treaty 6 was signed by the relevant Sovereign First Nations in Alberta covering their traditional lands. Get it Jack?
I accept your apology for your ignorance Jack, it’s not your fault; it’s Canada’s fault for not educating you.
So with the legal expansion of Canada west; the Treaties (1-11) gave rise to the legal creation of the Provinces; Ontario expanded; Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta were created.So where did Alberta come from Jack? Canada and the Treaties created Alberta Jack. Get it?
Alberta is a child of the Treaty signing process in western Canada! So now you also understand why Alberta just can’t pick up and leave Canada Jack: every square inch of land and water in Alberta is bound to
the Crown (in right of Canada) by virtue of the Treaties signed with Canada; not Alberta. Get it Jack?
So in the text of the Treaties which you can google and read Jack, it states the spirit and intent of the Treaties. To paraphrase: the sovereign First Nations in return for signing of the Treaties are “…to count on the benevolence and Bounty of Her Majesty to live in peace and goodwill… .”
What does this mean Jack?
It means at the signing of the Treaties 1-11; the sovereign First Nations brought untold millions and billions and trillions of wealth to the Treaty table and Her Majesty brought a pen and a paper.
Therefore, the Treaties promise wealth sharing (bounty) based on benevolence (or freely gifted). Right Jack? And sovereign First Nations are to live in peace and goodwill. This means to live with a share of the wealth the Treaties created; not poverty. Get it Jack? Did you read the text of the Treaties?
Now do you understand when you hear First Nations say; the Treaties remain unfulfilled?
At the signing of the Treaties the Treaty Medals were given out to every First Nations. It is the legal stamp to seal the deal that depicts two peoples shaking hands, both standing equally on level ground. Get it Jack?
So every shred of wealth created in the nation state called Canada comes from the First Nations treaties. Even the chair you’re sitting in. Right Jack?
However, 10 years after Canada was created; 1876; Canada brought in the illegal Indian Act to suppress the Treaties and make First Nations wards of the state.
First Nations to this very day are forced to live off taxpayers wealth instead of receiving their own share of the wealth the treaties legally created, to live in peace and goodwill.
This wealth is to flow based on the benevolence of Canada in right of Her Majesty. Freely Jack; this means nothing owed to Canada Jack!
The taxpayer system in Canada is a fancy wealth distribution system that gives you benefits Jack, like health care, jobs, education, highways and so on. The Treaties legally gave rise to wealth distribution systems you live under Jack.
Unfortunately, the Indian Act has First Nations trapped under your taxpayer wealth system Jack.
Thus, the spirit and intent of the Treaties has never been truly implemented in this country. First Nations are stuck begging for crumbs of your taxpayer wealth under the Indian Act.
Today we hear the word Reconciliation thrown around at every government event. The next time you hear that Jack, and any other taxpayers with you; tell the government(s); implement the spirit and intent of the Treaties by honouring the implementation of the Treaties as wealth sharing agreements not dependence agreements; this is true Reconciliation Jack.
To wit; Carney gifted Europe 5% of GDP wealth for peace and security in Europe on an annual basis; or about 150 billion per year and rising as Canada’s treaties wealth rises.
But 640 First Nations in Canada get to fight over a pittance of 26 billion annually of taxpayer wealth and reduced by 15% for 2026. So Jack, tell Canada to end the suppression under their apartheid policy called the Indian Act; implement the Treaties properly. The Treaties side of the Treaty Medals has never received their share of the wealth to live in peace and goodwill. Instead First Nations are stuck under the Indian Act as wards and beggars of the state. This was never the spirit intent of the Treaties: 1-11. Got it Jack? Thank you.
Shouldn’t we all be protesting this like the first nations does every time the rest of us try to make the lives of ALL ALBERTANS better? One way street here. What is treaty 6 and who came up with it? OH YEAH, a BRIT who lived in Canada back in the 1800’s who felt that everyone who was BORN IN CANADA had to agree to everything HE signed. I choose to NOT accept treaty 6 so now what?
Not gonna happen. Once Danielle Smith and her group hear about it, it will get shut down and I hope it happens
The only people who should be involved in this kind of situation are medical doctors and the individuals involved. Everyone else, stay out of it.
Isn’t it funny how these white power losers on the internet keep talking all this racist buIIshit about First Nations people being “conquered” yet the First Nations people are still thriving. If they were conquered then they wouldn’t still be here. Not only that but First Nations culture is thriving and their political power is currently one of the main issues in western Canadian politics right now. Have fun crossing the Stal̕əw̓asəm Bridge the next time you’re in Vancouver because it’s not going anywhere lol
They can all become eunuchs for all I care, suits them well
When in 1876 did the medicine chest helped in gender affirming medical care?
The chief is a girl named Dale…lol. These people are confused about the definition of healthcare. Allowing society to indulge in gender dysphoria is not healthcare, its enabling mental illness.
freaks
It’s a good thing the Saddle Lake Cree Nation respect human rights because the UCP (and a big chunk of responders on this thread) sure don’t.
Good in a decade no more new native babies just what the government wants. If natives die off who gets the land? They have 2 decades left then they are a lost people . Saddly natives are their own worst enemies they are so busy being anything but who they are
There are people who lack the capacity to grasp what puberty blockers exactly do. Children in Canada aren’t allowed to alter their bodies, because it’s against the law. People would also be shocked to see Danielle Smith in the Alberta Legislature on December 2, 2014, fully supporting things like GSAs, name choices for minors, and the overall rights of minors, and support for the LGBTQ community. You will know that Danielle Smith is trying so hard to remain premier. If TBA didn’t exist, this wouldn’t be happening.
There are surgeries that are prohibited on those under 18 years of age in Canada, because it is illegal. Danielle Smith doesn’t get that. TBA really has a hold on her, if she has to decry what she used to support. The UCP must have some epic levels of corruption going on, for her to be using distractions like this. MH Care (Corrupt Care) anyone?
Cecelia, never thought I would say this but, I agree with BoneRock
Nice, like the mexico of Alberta. Giving themselves a good name for sure (LOL)
There is a condition, all the alphabet people have to move onto the indigenous reserves
For a society that has been here “since time immemorial ” they make themselves sound pretty messed up. More likely that someone found a way to make a boatload of money.
You should do a poll to see how many albertans give a dam a out the first nations. It’d be intersesting to see.
Really Global your complete left leaning is why you are losing audiences in record number, you are Liberal owned and it’s blatant too bad you have no spine just spewing out the opinion of those you own you. That is the difference between an entertainment liscensed and real journalism , guts, integrity, your lacking in both. Another business taken down by the left enjoy your early retirement
Cecilia, we more than understand the topic and it has an impact on all members of our society. My taxes pay the bill for their “medical needs”. My taxes will also pay for the continual mental health treatment these “people” will require. My daughter’s may have to compete against “males” and even share locker rooms with them. My rights will be taken away when I am forced to call these “people” by whatever their fantasy requires. Keep living in your fantasy world of rainbows and unicorns and let the adults decide what is best for a troubled young mind, rather than you poisoning it with your delusional thoughts. Sicko.
So cool to see even more comments from the stupidest people on the planet opposed to bodily autonomy and in favour of a nanny state because they don’t understand a topic which has zero impact on their lives
Good for the Saddle Creek Cree, this horrible UCP government should not be able to take away anyone’s human rights. Thuss all just another way to feed their fat right base and the separatists.
Danielle smiths law should have made it illegal for anyone under 25 to undergo puberty blockers. Why are we allowing children to permanently change and alter their bodies, yet theyre not allowed to be tattooed until 18?
Make it make sense.
2 spirit is a made up term. Its a blanket statement across all tribes, even when some tribes would punish men for doing womens work and vice versa.
There is no science behind gender affirming care. There is no science behind social construction theory.
😵💫🖕
Sad to see that AI has completely taken over all writing now. The M dash giveaway is just plain lazy. Makes me shut the page before I finish reading, every time.
Britt / Brittany, sounds like you are a confused adult. Most likely because you were a confused child and no one with common sense was around you. Thats too bad. Lets not let this happen to others OK. Time to end the silliness.
Indians are silly putty . They are to maliabme and cluless.
When are people going to stop supporting this garbage. Let kids be kids and stop the alphabet gang from screwing with their minds. Puberty blockers have been banned in the UK. They are harmful. Anyone says different is lying. And for those of you that wanna take a chance at Saddle Lake, make sure you keep your doors locked. Good Luck. Morons.
As a trans adult I was once a trans kid. Being trans doesn’t happen when you turn 18. Thank you for supporting trans people and providing necessary care. 🏳️⚧️🫶
First we catch flak for “forced sterilization of children ” now we are being forced to sterilize their children 😑….what side are we supposed to be on again?
I love how God’s stupidest soldiers are tripping over themselves with their racism in their separation to be transphobic. The fact that anyone can be so stupid and bigoted that they condemn folks tryibg to leave medical decisions to patients and professionals in the face of egregious government overreach. Like if you’re so pathetic and submissive that you need the government to tell you what medical care you children can and cannot receive, you do you, but to me I think autonomy is more important than the emotional based opinions of a small fraction of the population that is neither personally affected nor intelligent enough to understand this topic.
That is complete garbage. This should never be allowed to happen with children. Anyone found to be doing this to children should not only lose there license but also face prison time. When did biology become a fantasy that can be changed just because someone that has been indoctrinated either by inside influences or out side influences. Stop the insanity.
you think they would have learned from past history when the priests would molest little native boys so now they are saying that kind of behavior is excepted .very strange , just like teaming up with a government that known and cover up all the hidden graves behind residential school . a form of stockholm syndrome
That’s stupid
The racism and transphobia in many of these comments is sickening.
They should then welcome shunned Dr. Makis on their land under their treaty, to practice alternative cancer protocols for desperate cancer patients.
First Nations…. Citizens of grift and convenience. On one hand they are part of Canada, and demand handouts. The coin flips and they are a sovereign nation within Canada and can do what they want on/in their reserves. However they cannot build nor maintain housing for their people, nor water treatment facilities. Out of control gangs and crime. Packs of wild dogs and the inebriated roaming around. Garbage, garbage everywhere….. And now they are going to provide “healthcare!?” If you want to take your child or loved one to a place like this that’s on you! Just wonder if you will have to pay out of pocket as you will be on “sovereign” First Nation land, that is not subject to Alberta laws…. But they cannot get enough of that government cheese…. Better make sure you go in for treatment when the “grift coin” is flipped to the “not part of Canada” side.
Nobody gives a fock!
You’d save so much time, if you kept your thoughts in your mushy pea brain
Wow child castration is evil.
First nation folks care more about Albertans than their own government. Pathetic.
always fun to see global news do nothing for the ouright calls for violence against first nations, compound with the calls for violence against anyome they deem an, (direct quote) “anti breeder” which just to break that down rather than let it fester, is so vile to imply that the only value a CHILD could have is the being livestock, since we only use that term in english to refer to animals. it’s beyond corrupted. it’s a narrative twisted from seeing that child as a whole person with their own rights, needs, and wants, to seeing that child only as a potential sexual object. “anti breeder” a direct sexualization of children, that’s the real grooming here. not trans people seeking healthcare or hrt.
Let me guess. Indians have been trans and using puberty blockers since time immemorable?
It’s all about the money. 😞
I applaud the move to help children and young adults. The commentary in here is very sad and the fact that they put the negative comments in writing tells me these people are quite dangerous in the public to people they choose to frown upon. From an open minded individual someone elses mental, physical and thoughts are theirs and not to be judged by an unknown person(s).
I can accept people for being horrible humans just like I can accept someone who has a different lifestyle to mine.
I just treat them accordingly.
Just goes to show us all the leaders of these first nations people are all fraudulent. Against the government because it’s the government. I can’t use the words that you need to hear .
Is that because family perpetrated sexual abuse is so rampant that the youth are confused about their sexual identity.
Ah yes, I can see it now. “Little Running Bear, do you have a Totem Pole or a Teepee with door flaps down between your legs? Well that affirms what gender you are. Next!”
Paul, that would be fantastic. Let them all live at that reserve, how quickly they would change their minds having that many mentally ill people in one area.
Sounds like another grift by fn . There full time job is grifting, as if 300 years ago they put in a treaty that sex changes trans health care was even a thing . Rediculous
Lots of strange people commenting who don’t seem to know what gender affirming care is or how children are treated with it. First children only get treated with puberty blockers which delays the onset of puberty and allows that individual and medical experts more time to work through if this is actually something that they want. Only when that person is an adult does the process of gender reassignment start and the puberty blockers make it far easier for their bodies, for those kids that really were just confused or going through a phase the blockers are discontinued and they then experience puberty.
In short thank you to treaty 6 for using your treaty rights to create a space where medical experts and not politics dictate medical care.
thunderous applause from me.
ms smith and her sycophants will need to understand and come to grips with the fundamental FN rights under the treaties
time to call out her trumpian bully tactics
This guy is a known drama queen. He is using LQBTQ community and the platform of treaty status as a podium. His personal life of dispair/stress should not drive any first nation to wag the dog (regardless of their relationship by blood or communal). In Alberta he is not even a practicing doctor, nor is he even practicing in the area mentioned. This is a selfishly motivated ploy to have him centered in media and mainstream. I truly feel for those actually seeking hormonal therapy as they are being led by a con. There is much more to be said from other communities and how they have been ghosted by this individual. He has a history and it will repeat itself. This same individual disrespected National Chief Wilton Littlechild on a different podium and speaks like he is above everyone. Bless him that he is an advocate, a doctor, a community member of a First Nation. This is a serious matter regardless of anyone’s blessing and should be taken seriously. Not for granted and definitely not as a podium.
This is amazing news. We have concrete study after study that gender affirming care saves lives! The rate of suicide drops significantly and the outlook of those obtaining it improves immensely. I mean, you know when a provincial government invokes the notwithstanding clause on a particular law, it’s already a deeply flawed piece of legislation. Bravo to this group of First Nations in Alberta for wanting to keep our kids alive, safe and happy.
Puberty blockers are not essential
Then we need a law holding them financially accountable for the mass shootings that are going to occur. Nobody will ever accuse them of paying attention to current and ongoing global events. Smart like bricks.
So we are still ignoring current science and evidence that shows that “Gender affirming care” actually DOESN’T help minors and in fact in a lot of cases makes the problem WORSE?
I know at 54 years old I was never a normal person but always accepted myself. These people can’t accept themselves and are riddled with mental disorders even get violent. Want some normal in this country. I suggest next election a conservative vote. All this nonsense would stop. We have been in absolute chaos since the liberal regime. Children are perfect the way they are. They need to be told that. They are destroying children’s bodies. Let that really sink in.
Treaty 6 (like Treaties 1–11 generally) promised:
reserve land (one square mile per family of five)
agricultural tools, livestock, seed, and a chest of carpenter’s tools
schools on reserve
annuities
continued hunting and fishing on unoccupied Crown land
in Treaty 6 only, a medicine chest and help in times of famine or pestilence.
Yet here we are, the indigenous dependent on the colonizers for everything.
Who cares? They just keep building division and resentment from Canadians!!
Another endless demand from our indigenous friends who ceded Canada to the Crown so they would be allowed to live on land reserved for them by the Crown.
Treaty 6: That a medicine chest shall be kept at the house of each Indian Agent for the use and benefit of the Indians at the direction of such agent.
The Treaty seems to be missing statements about gender surgeries.
So the indigenous are going to make the alphabet people to move to reserves so they are covered under Treaty rule?
Not much common sense in some of these commenter! All they want is to slag Mrs. Smith down !
Rotflmfao.
Anti-breeders are gonna genocide themselves.
I would be concerned about a premier with swaying convictions, who is afraid of not holding onto power, and has to attempt anything to keep that power.
If Danielle Smith has actual convictions, why would she switch those convictions? Is she that afraid of losing her role as premier?
Why does Danielle Smith not understand what gender affirming care is? Not only that, how come she shows social liberal standpoints one moment, while the next moment she doesn’t? Quite desperate to detract from MH Care (Corrupt Care), which is still there, and is over half a billion dollars, and possibly more.
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.