Speakers at a Treaty 6 anniversary event in Enoch Cree Nation on Thursday said treaty promises remain unfulfilled and criticized the Alberta government over Indigenous consultation as the province prepares for a referendum question on separation from Canada. The gathering marked 150 years since Treaty 6 was signed and included a viewing of the original manuscripts and adhesions.

Enoch Cree Nation Chief Cody Thomas addressed First Nation leaders and members, government officials and RCMP at the event. He described Treaty 6 as a peace agreement intended to ensure people looked after one another, but said its rights were not being honoured in his view.

“The intent was to look after one another. This is a peace treaty. This is something historical where our ancestors had the opportunity to look out for us today, but none of those treaty rights are being honoured, in my opinion,” Chief Cody said. “We got to do better, and it’s a good opportunity to engage and we’ll continue to push those conversations as we go forward.”

The celebration took place amid strained relations between First Nations and the Alberta government. Tensions have been fuelled in part by the upcoming referendum question, which has prompted court battles and renewed questions about whether Indigenous communities were consulted.

Treaty 6 territory stretches from western Alberta to Manitoba. The agreement was signed in parts in 1876 and 1877, before Alberta became a province, and includes 50 First Nations.

Enoch Cree Nation council member Charlton Thomas said treaties take precedence over Canadian and provincial law. “Our treaties basically trump Canadian law, provincial law,” he said. “Our treaties were agreed upon even before Canada was Canada and the province was a province.”

He said he and others would oppose the referendum process. “We are going to get out there and vote against it,” Charlton said. “We don’t agree with it. It shouldn’t have even actually come to the table.”

Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi also spoke, praising Treaty 6 First Nations for opposing separation. He said he would not have expected all of Alberta’s First Nations chiefs and councils to take a unified position defending Canada.

“If you had asked me 18 months ago, if I thought that all of the First Nations of Alberta, all the chiefs in council, would stand up unanimously in defence of the colonial government. I probably wouldn’t have taken that bet,” Nenshi said. “No one has been more harmed by Canada than First Nations people, and yet no one is standing up for Canada as strongly as First Nations people.”

Alberta’s Minister of Indigenous Relations, Rajan Sawhney, was absent. She also missed Treaty 6 celebrations in August, drawing backlash and calls for the United Conservative Party government to show First Nations greater respect. Alberta Children and Family Services Minister Searle Turton said Sawhney had been “called away for another engagement.”

Turton said he was honoured to attend and see the treaty in person. “It just really hit me hard about the sense of history that these treaties have lasted for so long, and we continue to work towards a spirit of reconcili-action,” he said.

In an interview with CTV News Edmonton after the event, Turton said he and the premier had both stated they would vote to keep Alberta in Canada. He said discussions with First Nations were “always ongoing,” and expressed optimism they would continue after more than 150 years. He added there were areas for improvement and said he and the premier were committed to keeping communication open.

Charlton disputed that account, saying communication had not been open. He accused Premier Danielle Smith of failing to consult First Nations before putting forward a referendum question that would affect treaty people. “I don’t think the relationship is good at this time,” he said. “It kind of seems like Danielle Smith does what she wants to do without consulting us as First Nations,” Charlton said. “There’s a treaty obligation on our end and also our treaty partners.”

In May, a judge quashed an Alberta separatist’s proposed question asking whether Alberta “should cease to be a part of Canada to become an independent state,” citing a lack of consultation with First Nations. The coming referendum will instead ask whether Alberta should begin the legal process for a binding referendum on leaving Canada. Smith has said consultation with First Nations was not required because the question is not binding. CTV News Edmonton said it had contacted Smith and Sawhney for comment and was awaiting a response. The report included files from CTV News Edmonton’s Chelan Skulski.

Based on reporting by CTV News Edmonton.