First Nations Chiefs Say Civil Disobedience an Option if Alberta Referendum Proceeds
Treaty chiefs say the province failed to consult and warn they may use civil disobedience if the separation question goes ahead.
- In an open letter sent Wednesday, Treaty 8 Grand Chief Trevor Mercredi demanded Alberta Premier Danielle Smith halt the October 19 separation referendum, citing insufficient First Nations consultation on constitutional matters.
- The demand follows a court ruling that quashed the Stay Free Alberta separation petition for failing to consult Indigenous groups, a decision Smith plans to appeal while questioning the duty's scope.
- Mercredi threatened civil disobedience, including "getting out on the highway," while Smith's office claims 700,000 Albertans signed petitions and contends the referendum does not trigger consultation duties.
- Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew urged Smith to pause the vote last week, while the NDP pressures 36 UCP MLAs to publicly declare their position on the separation question.
- Labeled "lawless" by Mercredi, the government faces a "course towards direct constitutional conflict," as treaty rights remain constitutionally protected agreements between the Crown and Indigenous peoples.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Treaty 8 calls on Alberta to put a stop to the upcoming referendum.
Treaty chiefs representing First Nations across the West say they are willing to carry out acts of civil disobedience if necessary to fight Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s separation vote. And Treaty 8 Grand Chief Trevor Mercredi on Thursday renewed a call for Smith to put a stop to the upcoming referendum. He pointed to a recent court decision that stalled a separation petition drive on the grounds Smith’s government did not fulfil its constit…
Winnipeg Free Press
Rocky Mountain OutlookAlberta's Smith says law will be enforced if separation vote spurs civil disobedience
CALGARY - Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the law will be enforced if First Nations communities engage in civil disobedience over her government's separation referendum.
Alberta Fact Check: CBC left out Treaty 8 Chiefs threatening highway actions, industry disruptions, civil disobedience
Subhead:According to the leaked transcript and subsequent video, when asked what the “or else” in the chiefs' letter meant, one chief responded: “There are many tactics that we can use.”# CBC's recent report on a letter from Treaty 8 First Nations chiefs opposing Alberta independence presented the chiefs as pursuing legal and constitutional remedies while raising concerns about treaty rights. What the CBC story did not tell readers is that, ac…
castanet.net
First Nations chiefs say civil disobedience an option if Alberta referendum proceeds
Treaty chiefs representing First Nations across the West say they are willing to carry out acts of civil disobedience if necessary to fight Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s separation vote.
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- 45% of the sources lean Left, 44% of the sources are Center
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