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Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, left, and Grand Chief Trevor Mercredi of the Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta during a press conference in Edmonton on Thursday.Megan Albu/The Globe and Mail
A coalition of seven First Nations chiefs says allowing a separatist petition to proceed in Alberta is a direct violation of both treaty agreements and the Canadian Constitution, and they are urging all Albertans to join them in their opposition.
Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation Chief Sheldon Sunshine, who is part of the group, warned Albertans Thursday that separatist pushes put the province at risk of U.S. annexation.
“We’re here to be clear with the province of Alberta: We strongly oppose any petition calling for a separation referendum. Letting this move risks opening the door to Alberta becoming the 51st state, something that we will not allow,” Mr. Sunshine said at a press conference in Edmonton.
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“When the U.S. Treasury Secretary said Alberta should come on down to the U.S., that wasn’t a joke. It was a serious signal of how others see this province’s political direction. Every Albertan should take that seriously.”
The northwest Alberta First Nation is one of five that have launched legal action against the province so far, saying that allowing the separatist petition to move forward is both unconstitutional and a violation of Indigenous treaty rights.
Alberta separatists are currently in the midst of a four-month campaign ending in early May to collect the nearly 178,000 signatures – about 6 per cent of the electorate – required to force a referendum on their question asking whether the province should become an independent state.
Between 20 and 30 per cent of Alberta residents support independence, according to recent public-opinion polling.
“Under international and Canadian law, neither Alberta nor Albertans have the right to secede, unilaterally or otherwise,” said a statement released by the chiefs on Thursday. “The Treaties were agreed to by First Nations and Crown before Alberta was created. Alberta is not a party to the Treaty and cannot make changes without First Nations’ consent.”
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Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on Thursday said she doesn’t want to demonize or marginalize Albertans who appear to support independence.Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, speaking in Ottawa Thursday after meeting with her fellow premiers and Prime Minister Mark Carney, refused to condemn separatist leaders and said she didn’t want to demonize or marginalize Albertans who appear to support independence.
The First Nations are hoping to quash a potential independence referendum by seeking an injunction on the petition currently being circulated around the province.
“The prosperity separatists talk about, it’s all built on their own illusions,” said Sunchild First Nation and Treaty 6 Grand Chief Joey Pete, speaking at the press conference. “How do we continue to support our provincial government when they don’t even respect us or treaty?”
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The idea that separating from Canada or joining the United States could result in more money for First Nations people brought audible laughter from the chiefs, who also say they have concerns foreign money is funding the separatist movement.
An affidavit filed by national-security expert Wesley Wark with the Sturgeon Lake lawsuit said separatist leaders’ meetings with the U.S. – which were condemned on Thursday as “treason” by B.C. Premier David Eby – are one of several foreign-interference threats that would be invited by an independence referendum.
“Today, we stand united in the common goal that’s to protect our land, our rights, our jurisdiction against another invading peoples,” said Blackfoot Confederacy president and Piikani Nation Chief Troy Knowlton. “We faced it 200 years ago, and today, in this modern age, we’re still dealing with invaders who want to change the narrative and disregard the history of First Nations, of all Albertans.”
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The chiefs said the separatist movement has already increased racism and sparked racist confrontations in the province, something Mr. Knowlton said has been unleashed by Ms. Smith “travelling to Mar-a-Lago and bringing the ideals of President Trump to Alberta.”
Chief Allan Adam said First Nations people signed treaties to share the land, not for separation, or “for you to go wherever you want to go”
“So Premier Smith and the UCP cabinet, I hope you have your bags packed,” he said, “because when this referendum is defeated, I will gladly walk you to the border.”
With a report from Matthew Scace
