Treaty 6 Nation sues Alberta over sovereignty act | 24CA News

Onion Lake Cree Nation in Saskatchewan has taken authorized motion towards the Saskatchewan First invoice and Alberta’s sovereignty act.

The Treaty 6 Nation filed an announcement of declare towards Alberta for the Alberta sovereignty below a united Canada act on Monday, saying it’s a breach of treaty and constitutional rights.

The sovereignty act was launched into legislature Nov. 29 by newly appointed Premier Danielle Smith. The Alberta legislature handed the act on Dec. 8 after a heavy debate.

An announcement of declare is a civil lawsuit, to which the province has 20 days to reply.

Treaty Nations first publicly rejected each payments on Dec. 12 on the grounds that each items of laws “are in violation of our Treaties and are also contrary to Canada’s constitution.”

In an announcement issued Monday, Okimaw (Chief) Lewis from Onion Lake Cree Nation stated they “have no choice but to use the colonial courts to defend our treaty rights and sovereign jurisdiction as Alberta has passed this law without any consultation from our Nation.

“In fact, there is no evidence of consultation in the debates, Hansards or elsewhere, that Alberta sought any input from Indigenous peoples and treaty nations.”

Smith has denied allegations that the province didn’t seek the advice of with the nations and Indigenous group over the matter.

“We don’t comment on ongoing litigation. The Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act is constitutional and does not interfere or undermine Indigenous and treaty rights,” learn an announcement from the premier’s workplace Monday night.

During the final legislative session, Smith commented there was no distinction between Alberta’s struggle with Ottawa and the sovereignty Indigenous peoples have sought towards the nation for tons of of years.

This remark led many to query whether or not the premier understood the treaty and treaty rights in any respect.

While the premier insists the sovereignty act is in favour of Indigenous rights, the authorized doc launched Monday by Onion Lake Cree Nation outlines that the act infringes on the rights of the treaty nation peoples “to pursue their traditional ceremonies, associations and avocations (such as hunting, fishing and trapping, etc.), through the effective derogation of the (Nation’s) sovereignty and jurisdiction.” Also that it takes away from guarantees made within the treaty, and “negates the guarantees of livelihood and freedom that the treaty was made to protect, by wresting control of all treaty rights and the treaty relationship from the crown in right of Canada to the lieutenant governor in council of Alberta.”

The nation is asking for apology and recognition from Alberta that the sovereignty act goes towards the treaty and structure, that it extends past the provincial Crown’s authorized authority and that the act won’t be enforce towards the Nation and its peoples.

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