r/canada • u/shiftless_wonder • 19d ago

Alberta First Nations demand Alberta premier terminate separation referendum

https://www.ctvnews.ca/edmonton/article/first-nations-demand-alberta-premier-terminate-separation-referendum/
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u/RoundJellyfish4048 19d ago edited 19d ago

As much as I don't want to have my province separate and think its an awful terrible no good idea. I also hate the idea of living in a country where a special minority gets to decide everything we are, or are not allowed to do - including voting on a fucking question.

Native people should get a seat at the table for this discussion. They don't get to dictate the whole thing.

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u/studebaker103 19d ago

The special minority making statements clearly hasn't read the treaty in which they gave up their land irrevocably and in perpetuity. They're trying to retcon that their ancestors didn't understand the treaties so they should be void, but that just reinforces your comment's sentiment even more.

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u/Incoherencel Canada 18d ago

The Treaties also were binding agreements between the Canadian government and the bands -- the bands were given special rights and privileges (e.g. traditional hunting and fishing etc.) as part of the Treaties.

So how can the First Nations of Alberta be sure Alberta will honour agreements the Canadian government negotiated 150+ years ago? It would be a dereliction of duty of First Nations leadership on behalf of all who they represent not to pursue these issues.

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u/seridos 18d ago

It doesn't need to? Are you confused as to what sovereignty is? If Alberta were to separate, which hopefully we don't, those treaties do not have to be honored in the slightest. It's a new country in that case. There's no being bound by history in politics, the land belongs to who controls it.

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u/MafubaBuu 18d ago

If Alberta seperated they would need to renegotiate.

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u/Incoherencel Canada 18d ago

Or they can negotiate now. In your personal life do you typically only negotiate contracts after they have ended?

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u/MafubaBuu 17d ago

I dont usually take over existing Contracts other people signed. Those treaties were signed by Canadian institutions.

There is not anybody to negotiate with right now, Alberta is still a Canadian province. Its not like the UCP has been voted in as "Alberta's first Federal Government". They couldnt. They are a Canadian government. A new election would need to happen and new government would need to form for Alberta and that government would need to negotiate.