United in Treaty conference aims to educate about the importance of treaties

Amidst separatist talk in Alberta and the federal government’s Bill C-5, First Nation and Métis leaders, Elders, lawyers, scholars and community members opened two days of meetings in Edmonton Wednesday to talk about treaties. The inaugural United in Treaty conference has attendees from across several territories gathering to address the federal government’s Building Canada Act and Alberta government legislation that paved the way to a potential referendum on separation in 2026. “I wanted to have that conversation. I wanted to educate mainstream society, and even our own people lack a real deep knowledge of what Treaties are and how important they are in the policies and bills that are being passed,” organizer Karen McCarthy of Inspire Group of Companies and a Saddle Lake band member tells APTN News. McCarthy says almost 260 people are attending with about 40 more attending virtually. She says there is even one participant registered virtually from New Zealand. Most of the in-person attendees are from Alberta and Saskatchewan. The Alberta government has been slammed by for stoking separatist fires which most First Nation leaders across the province agree threaten treaty. An expert panel will address the provincial separation attempts on Thursday before the conference wraps up. Bill C-5 was fast tracked through Parliament by Prime Minister Mark Carney in June as a response to U.S. tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. Creation and introduction of the bill was widely criticized by Indigenous leaders for not respecting a key portion of UNDRIP including free, prior and informed consent of Indigenous Peoples on issues that may impact them. Read more: Leaked tape: ‘If the provinces aren’t trying hard enough, we’ll bring them up’, Carney tells chiefs Former Treaty 6 Grand Chief Willie Littlechild says Alberta ‘wasting time’ on separation question While the legislation underwent some last-minute changes before being passed into law June 26 to help alleviate the concerns of Indigenous groups, it continues to be a hot-button issue for First Nations. Especially with Prime Minister Carney recommending five “nation-building projects” go ahead that could affect several First Nations communities. They include expanding liquefied natural gas (LNG) production in BC, a new nuclear project in Bowmanville, Ontario as well as upgrading ports, and a copper mine in Saskatchewan. A Major Projects Office was also set up to get these projects built. An Indigenous Advisory Council will “support” that office, according to the federal government. The recently unveiled council is made up of seven First Nations members, two Inuit, and two Métis from across Canada. However, two groups have voiced concern about not being represented on the council: First Nations in Manitoba and the Métis in Alberta. The AFN again criticized the lack of consultation by the federal government-this time on who would make up the council. Tags: AFN, Alberta, Building Canada, conference, fast tracking, FPIC, Free Prior and Informed, Indigenous Advisory Council, Indigenous peoples, major projects, separation, Treaties, Treaty, United in Treaty Continue Reading