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Rally held in Edmonton to support First Nations’ fight to stop Alberta separation referendum | CBC News
Signs and the flags of many nations filled Sir Winston Churchill Square in downtown Edmonton on Wednesday as roughly 200 First Nations leaders, community members and supporters gathered to oppose an attempt to force a referendum on Alberta separating from Canada.
Rally took place Wednesday at Churchill Square as court hearing enters 2nd day
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Signs and the flags of many nations filled Sir Winston Churchill Square in downtown Edmonton on Wednesday as roughly 200 First Nations leaders, community members and supporters gathered to oppose an attempt to force a referendum on Alberta separating from Canada.
Signs read “this is treaty land, honour the land, honour the people,” and “stand with First Nations,” as speakers stressed the ongoing relevance of treaty rights.
“We organized this event, you know, to bring some awareness to the non-Indigenous public as well,” said Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta Grand Chief Trevor Mercredi. “Make sure that they understand that our treaty is here to protect, and that our treaty is not some mythical document.
“This is current history and we’re dealing with it today. We talk about separation here — people have to understand that these lands belong to us and we will not sit idly by.”
The rally was held on the second day of a hearing at the Edmonton Court of King’s Bench, where a trio of First Nations groups are seeking to shut down a petition calling for a referendum to be held on Alberta leaving Confederation.