First Nation declares itself safe haven for gender-affirming care amid Alberta’s ban for trans youth

First Nation declares itself safe haven for gender-affirming care amid Alberta’s ban for trans youth

"When there's a threat to the buffalo calves in the herd, all of the adult buffalo form a circle around those young ones..."

Saddle Lake Cree Nation in Alberta Invokes Treaty 6 to Protect Gender-Affirming Care

Alberta has restricted access to puberty blockers and hormone therapy for transgender youth, and it's invoked a provision of the Canadian Constitution called the "notwithstanding clause" that allows governments temporarily to override certain constitutional rights. Saddle Lake Cree Nation is responding with reliance on Treaty 6, a source of authority that Alberta can't override with…

Saddle Lake proclaims itself ‘safe haven’ for transgender care

Saddle Lake Cree Nation Chief Dale Steinhauer announces her First Nation’s intention to allow gender affirming care that’s prohibited in Alberta to occur on its reserve. (Screenshot/Facebook)This story was originally published in Alberta Native News.On the 150th anniversary of Treaty 6’s signing, Saddle Lake Cree Nation announced that it will invoke the Treaty’s medicine chest clause to provide a “safe haven for gender-affirming care” in Alberta…