‘Pack up your bag and go’: Chief says to Alberta premier

Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation is fed up with Alberta’s premier and her policies.

“Pack up your bag and go. That’s my message to the premier. You’re not welcome here anymore,” said Adam.

Those include a move to lower the number of signatures required to start a referendum vote, even one on Alberta separation.

That bill – number 54 – literally thrown on the ground at a chief’s press conference in Edmonton on Tuesday.

“We’re very concerned about the rhetoric around separation because it fundamentally forgets that we are the rightful owners of this land,” said Trevor Mercredi, Treaty 8 Grand Chief.

Mercredi believes Alberta is doing a terrible job of consulting with First Nations on a number of bills.

“All-Seasons Resorts Act, the regulations that have been changed when it comes to hunting, Bill 54. It just doesn’t end. We have concerns about where she is getting the ideas for a lot of these bills. Where are they coming from?” he asked.

In addition to lowering referendum thresholds and extending the time allowed to gather signatures, Bill 54 also bans voting tabulators, beefs up ID requirements, and allows corporate and union donations back into Alberta politics.

Political scientist Jared Wesley has said the bill mirrors anti-democratic tactics used by U.S. President Donald Trump.

The government is defending Bill 54, saying it strengthens trust in our voting systems, and the current rules for kickstarting referendums make it nearly impossible to actually have any. 

The province’s Indigenous relations minister acknowledged tensions amongst chiefs are high right now, mostly over separation talk.

“Well, I’d like to run and hide. But no, I can’t do that, I’m not allowed. So I’m gonna have to stand up there and take the heat and whatever happens, happens. Like I’ve said, I have a good relationship with the chiefs, they know I have a heart for them, I want to continue working with them,” said Rick Wilson, Alberta Indigenous Relations Minister.

The premier’s office did not respond directly to Chief Adam’s comments, but repeated her position that any referendums would not violate treaty rights.

“Everybody is entitled to their opinion, including the chief. And the premier is doing a great job, we’d be poorer without her,” said Ric McIver, Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister.

As for Bill 54, the NDP says they will work around it when it passes.

“We will ensure that we drive people to the polls, and get them their ID, and make sure that they are able to vote if they want to vote. Because, unlike our opponents, we believe in democracy,” said Naheed Nenshi, Alberta NDP leader.