NWT Dene leaders voice opposition to Alberta separation

Politics south of the NWT border made the agenda at the final day of a Dene Nation forum on public safety.

Delegates from across the territory met in Yellowknife this week to discuss solutions to combat drugs, crime and violence in Dene communities.

During the final day of the forum, after voting on more than a dozen resolutions, talk turned to separation chatter in Alberta.

Acho Dene Koe Chief Eugene Hope called on the Dene leaders gathered to support chiefs in Alberta who are opposed to the province separating from Canada.

“I think our brothers in Alberta, First Nations Treaty 6, 7, 8, really need the support of the First Nations across Canada,” he said.

“The issue also is with the premier of Alberta suggesting and trying to do this without the backing, support for the consultation of First Nations in Alberta.”

Hope noted that Alberta First Nations supported the NWT’s inclusion in a child welfare settlement. He added that many people from the territory regularly travel to Alberta and some members of NWT-based First Nations live in the province.

Treaty 8 and Treaty 11 include lands in both Alberta and the NWT.

Alberta First Nation leaders hold emergency meeting

First Nations leaders from across Alberta gathered for an emergency meeting in Edmonton earlier this week, at which they denounced separation rhetoric and voiced opposition to Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s proposed Bill 54, which could make it easier for citizens to hold a provincial referendum on seceding from Canada.

Smith has said she does not support the province separating but has accused the federal government of taking “hostile” actions against Alberta and given new Prime Minister Mark Carney a list of demands.

She has also promised that, if Alberta residents gather enough signatures, she will hold a secession referendum as early as next year.

Sahtu Grand Chief Wilbert Kochon on Thursday criticized Smith, highlighting her controversial meeting with then president-elect Donald Trump in January.

“When Alberta said they’re going to separate, I wasn’t surprised because she met with Trump’s team and is thinking about herself and not really thinking about Indigenous people,” he said.

“I think she knows what she’s doing and knows what they’re after,” he added, highlighting oil and gas resources in the province.

“Maybe they’re going to be the 51st state.”

Kochon said it’s important to pay attention to what is going on down south and to support First Nations in Alberta, as what happens in the province could also affect the North.

Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́ First Nation councillor Eric Menicoche, Ka’a’gee Tu First Nation Chief Lloyd Chicot and Dene National Chief George Mackenzie also voiced their support for Alberta First Nations.

“I support what the chiefs of Alberta or the First Nations are telling the Alberta government, that they are a province and not a nation,” Menicoche said, “so they have no right to separate from something that they don’t own.”

Could Alberta actually separate?

Asked about talk of Alberta separating, NWT Premier RJ Simpson told Cabin Radio he would not weigh in on the province’s politics. He did say, however, that he does not expect it will impact the relationship between the NWT and Alberta.

“We work closely with them on a number of different fronts and I don’t see that changing in the future,” he said.

“I know that there is a lot of talk in Alberta but, from what I’ve seen by the numbers, we’re not looking at 100 percent of the people want to separate from Canada.”

While that prospect has sparked plenty of headlines, experts have said the reality of Alberta separating from Canada any time soon is unlikely.

Under Canada’s Clarity Act, “a clear majority” of residents must vote yes during a provincial referendum in order for a province to leave Canada.

Recent polls suggest most Albertans do not support separation.

According to an Angus Reid poll on western secession released in April – ahead of the federal election – 30 percent of Albertans said they would vote to leave federation if the Liberal Party formed government.

A separate poll published by Nanos earlier this month suggested 64 percent of Albertans believe remaining part of Canada is the best option for the province’s economy.

Even if a secession referendum did pass in Alberta, that would just trigger the start of negotiations with the federal government, other provinces and First Nations.