Indigenous Chiefs gather at legislature, pressure Alberta to quash separatism push

Fifty First Nations chiefs, councillors and elders gathered at Alberta's legislature, calling on the UCP government to stomp out the push for the province to leave Canada.

More than a dozen First Nations chiefs and even more band councillors and elders came together Monday at the Alberta legislature, calling on Premier Danielle Smith’s government to stomp out the push for the province to quit Canada.

“Our rights are being minimized,” Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation Chief Sheldon Sunshine said to reporters.

The comments came after First Nations chiefs across the province unanimously called on members of the legislature to hold a non-confidence vote against Smith’s government in part for how it has handled a budding separatist movement.

Opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi tabled a motion to hold such a vote Monday, but it was promptly shut down by Smith’s majority United Conservatives.

Government House Leader Joseph Schow called it a “political stunt” and questioned whether Nenshi believed in direct democracy.

“Who do you think you are … to say Albertans don’t have a right to have their voices heard?” Schow told the house.

Chiefs and other Indigenous leaders in the gallery voiced their frustration before leaving, with some yelling at the politicians below to denounce separatism.

“Traitors!” shouted one.