Danielle Smith has spoken publicly about her Cherokee roots as far back as 2012, tweeting in September that she is “someone of aboriginal (sic) descent.”
But an investigative report released by the Aboriginal People’s Television Network (APTN) this week found no records to support her claims, and Smith refused to provide any evidence or even restate her claims on Friday.
“Premier Smith has heard about her heritage from loved ones. Her family has talked about her ancestry for years and is proud of her family history. Premier has not taken a deep dive into her ancestry, but she is proud of her roots,” her rep wrote.
CTV News Edmonton asked several Chiefs about the situation at a joint press conference hosted by Treaty 6, 7 and 8, where leaders gathered to speak out against Smith’s plans for an act of sovereignty.
“I think (she) should go to the pink palace here in the Canada office,” Treaty 8 leader Arthur Nosky said with a laugh.
Edmonton’s Canada Place building houses an Indigenous Services Canada office.
“They are the ones who have that class of bloodline that you are and maybe she can find herself there. Maybe then we’ll believe it.”
Smith’s claim in September came after a contractor to the United Conservative Party leadership was fired over “offensive and completely unacceptable” recordings of him mocking Indigenous people.
my campaign to immediately terminate any contract or other dealings with the company involved.
As a person of Indigenous descent, I honor the heritage of Canada’s Indigenous Peoples as one of the greatest treasures and strengths of our nation and province. /2
— Danielle Smith (@ABDanielleSmith) September 28, 2022
“As someone of aboriginal (sic) descent, I honor the heritage of Canada’s Indigenous Peoples as one of the greatest treasures and strengths of our nation and province,” Smith wrote.
Chief Tony Alexis, of the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation, west of Edmonton, talked about how people falsely claiming aboriginal heritage has become a problem.
“What we realize is that anybody wants to be a part of this indigenous community if there’s any benefit,” Alexis said.
“At the university level we have non-Indigenous people claiming to be Indigenous to gain benefits to win scholarships. There’s always something behind it.”
Chiefs from Treaty 6, 7 and 8 speak to reporters in west Edmonton on Nov. 18, 2022. (Sean Amato/CTV News Edmonton.)
Chief Alexis and others call on Smith to stop the act of sovereignty and consult with the natives. He suggested the legislation was further proof that the prime minister’s claims were false.
“A true native would not go against all the Treaty residents of this country,” he said.
NDP MP Richard Feehan was at that press conference and said Alexis’ words meant a lot more than his own on the issue of Smith’s aboriginal claim.
“I think he needs to have a conversation with the First Nations about this,” Feehan told reporters.
“Not with people like me or the opposition. The First Nations chiefs, who are the people’s representatives, need to hear from her and she has obviously failed to do that in every possible way.”
A representative for Smith said she was not available Friday to answer questions from reporters.
