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(Image Credit: Treaty 8 Sovereign First Nations)
By Nathaniel Leigh
Treaty 8 Sovereign First Nations

Treaty 8 Sovereign First Nations disappointed in omitted First Nations reference in Alberta Day statement

Sep 3, 2026 | 6:03 AM

The Grand Chief of Treaty 8 Sovereign Nations is expressing his disappointment in the omission of references to Indigenous peoples in the premier’s Alberta Day statement.

Danielle Smith’s statement issued Tuesday included a line recognizing Indigenous people, but when the statement was updated an hour later, the line was gone.

Grand Chief Trevor Mercredi is calling the removal deeply troubling.

“Treaty 8 Sovereign First Nations and all First Nations across Alberta have always been part of the history, present, and future of this province,” Mercredi says. “Our Nations are not a footnote to Alberta’s story. Treaty Nations were here long before Alberta existed, and our place in this land cannot be erased when it becomes politically inconvenient.”

Mercredi says the omission is particularly disturbing in the context of separation-related initiatives.

“At a time when First Nations people are facing increased hostility for standing up for Treaty, the government should be affirming our place and history prior to Alberta’s story, not deleting it,” said Mercredi. “Respect for First Nations must be reflected in the government’s words, actions and relationships.”

At a press conference Tuesday, Smith called the updated statement a glitch and said she was unsure why the original version had been updated.

As of 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, the updated version of the statement remains on the Premier’s social media pages.

by Nathaniel Leigh