Alberta Treaty 8 First Nation leadership wants to address concerns over 2025 budget

Nov 16, 2025 | 9:00 AM

Treaty 8 First Nations have shared a statement regarding the federal government’s 2025 budget, expressing “deep concern and disappointment”:

The Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta expresses deep concern and disappointment with the 2025 Federal Budget, which does not uphold Canada’s constitutional and Treaty obligations to First Nations and overlooks a crucial opportunity to invest in the next generation.

Rather than honoring its responsibilities, the federal government has reframed binding Treaty and fiduciary obligations as discretionary spending. This approach violates the Honour of the Crown. Budget reductions to Indigenous Services Canada and Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada weaken essential programs that support First Nations families, communities, and youth.

“Budget 2025 is presented as a nation building plan, yet it builds nothing for the First Nations whose Treaties form the foundation of this country,” said Grand Chief Trevor Mercredi. “When the government fails to invest in our youth, it fails to invest in Canadas future.”

Although the budget promotes large scale infrastructure spending, loan guarantees, and private sector projects described as economic growth, it hides the continued exclusion of First Nations from decisions about land, water, and resources.

The budget also signals future reductions under the category of Indigenous Reconciliation. These cuts contradict Canada’s stated commitment to a renewed relationship with First Nations and threaten progress made in housing, education, health, family services, and self government. Canada must clearly explain which programs will be reduced, outline the impacts on First Nations, and fulfill its duty to consult before making any changes that affect Treaty and constitutional obligations.

Despite being described as a generational investment, Budget 2025 contains very few direct measures that support First Nations youth through housing, education, health, language revitalization, or child and family services. These are the real foundations of reconciliation and long-term prosperity for all people in Canada.

“The Nations of Treaty 8 stand united in protecting our rights, our lands, our waters, and our future generations,” said the Grand Chief. “Water, land, and future generations are at the heart of Treaty. Any national plan that ignores these foundations cannot claim to be nation building.”

We call on the federal government to meet with Treaty 8 First Nation leadership without delay to address these concerns, to provide clarity on the budget reductions, and to commit to a clear path forward that respects Treaty obligations and the inherent rights of the First Nations of Treaty 8.

Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta Statement

Treaty 8 Land stretches from the B.C. Peace, across all of northern Alberta, including Grande Prairie, to western Saskatchewan; it also includes a piece of southern N.W.T.

Photo Courtesy Canadian History Workshop Website