“It is nothing but a dangerous and damaging plan to undermine democracy and abandon the rule of law,” said Chief Darcy Dixon of the Bearspaw Nation, one of dozens of Treaties 6, 7 and 8 chiefs who appeared Friday at a press conference . to protest the proposed legislation. The act is the Unionist Conservative Party government’s signature bills for the upcoming legislative session. “This is far from mastery,” Dixon said.

		Read more: Premier Danielle Smith asks ministers to get ‘united front’ when dealing with federations 		
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			Premier Danielle Smith asks ministers to get ‘united front’ when dealing with federations

Premier Danielle Smith told the Calgary Chamber of Commerce on Friday that Alberta’s sovereignty would be named within a United Canada Act. He said he would aim to give the province the power to opt out of federal legislation it deems detrimental to its interests. Story continues below ad Although the proposal has been widely derided by constitutionalists, Smith said the bill would not violate any of its rules. Yes, it will be, said the chiefs, who represent 61 First Nations and all of the province’s treaty groups. “We take offense to Danielle Smith’s impending act of sovereignty and reject it unequivocally,” said Arthur Noskey, Grand Chief of Treaty 8. 2:01 Danielle Smith says she will move forward with sovereignty legislation in Alberta The chiefs maintain that the treaties are with the Crown, not with the provinces. It is not up to Alberta to rewrite the terms of the agreement. “We made a treaty with the Imperial Crown,” said Regina Crowchild, an elder and treaty advisor from Treaty 7. “We certainly didn’t make a treaty with (Premier Smith).” Current trend

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Chief Tony Alexis of the Alexis First Nation said the bill is ultimately aimed at facilitating resource extraction in the province. Story continues below ad “This bill sets up the province to allow mining in any case, completely unprotected.”

		Read more: Smith’s act of sovereignty to ‘respect Supreme Court decisions’: advisor

Others pointed out that even though the bill has been discussed and debated publicly for months, no one from Smith’s office or cabinet has reached out to First Nations about it. “There was zero consultation,” Alexis said. “If (Smith) is going to do anything for the world, it can’t be done without the people and that’s what’s happening right now.” In an emailed response, Smith’s spokeswoman Rebecca Polak said consultations are coming. He said Smith and Indigenous Relations Minister Rick Wilson would set up meetings with the chiefs. 1:53 Smith abolishes Alberta Health Services board, installs official administrator “The Government of Alberta acknowledges the concerns of Treaty 6, 7 and 8 chiefs regarding the proposed Alberta Sovereignty Act,” Polak wrote. “We are committed to ensuring that the legislation specifically states that nothing within the act should be construed to abrogate or derogate from any existing Aboriginal and treaty rights.” Story continues below ad Richard Feehan, the opposition NDP’s indigenous relations critic, said his party has already spoken with the chiefs. “We have heard their very serious concerns about the Danielle Smith Sovereignty Act,” he said in a statement. “Since Danielle Smith promised this would be her first bill, Albertans have been very vocal in their opposition to this damaging bill.”

		Read more: Alberta chief slams Premier Danielle Smith’s claim of aboriginal roots

The proposed legislation has been particularly controversial since it became the focus of Smith’s campaign for the leadership of her party last spring. While supporters call it a warning to Ottawa against meddling in Alberta’s resource industry, others said it would not withstand a constitutional challenge and would drive away investment in the province by creating uncertainty. Alberta chiefs are not the first to oppose what they call a provincial encroachment on the Crown-Indigenous relationship. When Premier Scott Moe’s Saskatchewan Party introduced its own similar legislation, the Saskatchewan First Act, the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations said it ignored treaty rights. “The blatant disrespect this province continues to display is unbelievable,” wrote Chief Bobby Cameron, who represents the 74 First Nations in Saskatchewan. Story continues below ad The next session of the Alberta Legislature will begin on November 29. © 2022 The Canadian Press