Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Wednesday that a group of First Nations chiefs need to “check themselves,” after they accused her of potential treasonous activity for calling a separation vote.
The Assembly of Treaty Chiefs, representing First Nations across Alberta, unanimously voted this week to ask RCMP to look into whether the province’s fall referendum amounts to criminal treason by Smith and her United Conservative Party.
The chiefs, in a news release, said organizing the vote is an intentional treaty violation and that Smith’s government is ignoring serious risks to Canada’s sovereignty.
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The group also said that when their treaties were signed, the North West Mounted Police — now known as the RCMP — committed to ensuring the safety of First Nations, while the Crown promised goodwill in exchange for sharing the land.
“United, the chiefs of Treaty No. 6, Treaty No. 7 and Treaty No. 8 territories now call for the fulfilment of this commitment in the form of a full investigation.”
At an unrelated news conference in Calgary, Smith dismissed the chiefs’ statement.
“I think it’s disgraceful that any government that wants to be taken seriously would level the charges that serious against another government,” she said.
“I’ve had my differences with the federal government, but I have never used language like that.
“I would ask the treaty chiefs to check themselves, because we have a very collaborative relationship between our government and our ministers.”
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Smith said she wants that relationship to continue, but “this kind of overwrought language has no place in a democracy.”
Two of the assembly’s chiefs, in response to the premier, said it’s Smith who needs to check herself.
“This whole time she’s been trying to steamroll her separatist regime onto the rest of Albertans as well, and infringing on the Constitution that built the framework of Canada,” said Joey Pete, grand chief of the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations.
“Her and her government need to check themselves, and remember who they work for.”
Albertans are to vote Oct. 19 on whether they want to remain in Canada or start the process to hold a second, binding referendum on the province quitting Canada.
Smith has repeatedly cited two competing petitions on either side of the separation debate as being the reason she called the referendum. However, she has said she’ll vote for Alberta to stay in Canada.
Her government is also appealing a court ruling that saw the petition launched by a separatist group struck down after it was challenged by a group of Alberta First Nations.
A judge ruled the petition shouldn’t have been issued and that Smith’s government neglected its duty to consult First Nations.
Indigenous leaders have been outspoken in their opposition to Alberta’s separatist movement and legislation passed by Smith’s government that aided the separatist petition campaign.
Pete took his concerns about secession to England in March, when he met with King Charles.
Trevor Mercredi, grand chief of Treaty 8 First Nations, said Smith is free to disagree with the chiefs’ call for an RCMP investigation.
“However, dismissing the concerns of Treaty Nations as ‘overwrought’ does not answer the serious constitutional and legal questions that have been raised,” Mercredi said in a statement.
“It is the actions of government that must be checked against the Constitution, the treaties, the rule of law, and the honour of the Crown.”
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Smith said she hopes the temperature of the separation debate can be tamped down.
“I’ve tried to keep it respectful,” she said.
“The way I’ve approached the two sides in this is sort of an indication of how I would hope Albertans would approach those who they might disagree with, because this is an important discussion to have.”
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An RCMP spokesperson said the force is aware of the chiefs’ statement and is reviewing their request, but couldn’t comment further.
A spokesperson for Alberta’s auditor general, who the chiefs also called on to investigate, said the matter is out of its purview.
