Sovereignty referendum a non-starter for Alberta Indigenous leaders

Posted on May 22, 2025 by admin

By Alexandra Noad
Southern Alberta Newspapers
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Chiefs from all three treaties in Alberta have united their voices in opposition to Bill 54.

After an emergency meeting held on May 6 to discuss the bill, which would make it easier for a referendum on Alberta sovereignty to take place, chiefs from several different nations spoke their concerns at a press conference.

Chief Jake Whiskeyjack, of the Saddle Lake Cree Nation, located on Treaty 6 territory, said the meeting was to unify the voices of the Indigenous people of Treaties 6, 7 and 8 to send a clear message to the premier.

“We had this emergency meeting because we needed to call upon our fellow Indian people…to make that statement loud and clear for Danielle Smith to hear us that we were here first and we’re not going anywhere.”

Chief Troy Knowlton, of the Piikani Nation located on Treaty 7, said the talk about separation is “insanity.”

“There is no pathway to separation,” says Knowlton. “You can have all of the referendums you want, but there is no way and for the province to not engage with First Nations if you’re going to make statements like that, really shows the respect they have for the original inhabitants of this land.”

He adds that due to Bill 54, the treaties have become more unified than ever, which was echoed by Chief Billy-Joe Tuccaro of Mikisew Cree First Nation located on Treaty 8.

“We thank you for bringing us together as treaty people to stand and oppose this,” said Tuccaro.

Tuccaro was critical of Smith’s demands to Prime Minister Mark Carney, especially with the tight timeline of 2026.

“You talk about a reset with Canada, you must first reset with the Indigenous peoples from Turtle Island.”

After the initial speeches from leaders of each treaty, many other chiefs stood up and spoke out against the bill and potential separation.

Chief Kelsey Jacko of the Cold Lake First Nations says there should be no reason his people should be struggling as much as they are.

“There’s no reason our people should be homeless, our people are suffering with addictions, our people are being overlooked (and) it’s about time we have a seat at the table.”

Chief Wilfred Hooka-Nooza, of the Dene Tha’ First Nation, pleaded with Smith to stop the developments on their territory as it’s destroying their traditional way of life.

“There are developments that are happening in our traditional territory, the ongoing clearing of trees, farmland and that’s impacting our way of life (included in) Section 35: our hunting, fishing and traveling rights.”

A similar message was also followed up by Chief Allan Adam, of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, who asked that all new developments on treaty land be stopped immediately and suggested the premier and prime minister develop a water energy plan, but ensure Indigenous people are a part of those discussions.

“When (a water energy plan) is developed, I assure you the rhetoric of Premier Smith will go away, but before that has to happen all exploration on the Athabasca Tribal Territory stop immediately,” said Adam.

When asked how confident they were that treaty rights would be respected by the premier if a referendum should take place, Tuccaro said he “is not very confident.”

“We have been defending that treaty since the day after it’s been signed, so, from the discussion we had today, enough is enough,” said Tuccaro. “Treaty people are rising up and we will not take any more of the forked tongue that we’ve been lied to for the last 126 years.”

On April 14 Bill 209, or the Reconciliation Implementation Act, was tabled with all members of the UCP caucus voting against it – including Rick Wilson, minister of Indigenous Relations.

Wilson spoke with Knowlton May 6 and Knowlton called him out for voting against the bill.

“I said ‘you come to my community, you sit across the table, you shed tears at almost every meeting, you smoke the pipe with us and when it comes to voting for something that’s going to benefit the First Nations, you vote against it.’”

Knowlton adds that Wilson told him that, because the bill was proposed from the opposition, he had to vote against it, to which Knowlton responded with pointing out that he could have abstained from the vote.

The chiefs were scheduled to hold a meeting with the premier on May 6 but chose to cancel it.

“The meeting has had to cancel until she changes her tone,” said Jacko. “Maybe in the future we’ll meet, if she’s meaningful but she has to respect us, with how she’s talking right now I don’t see it.”