Your treaties are between us and Canada, not Alberta
Good morning from the coulees — the wind's up, the sky's wide, and Lethbridge has something to say.
Look, this idea about Alberta leaving Canada, it’s always floating around out here, like the dust in a dry summer wind. But the latest challenge to the whole separatist notion, it comes from a direction that frankly, a lot of folks probably didn't even consider. It's not just about a petition drive anymore. We're talking about a challenge that says Alberta can't just up and leave because of the treaties made with First Nations.
### What This Means for Us
Think about it. The argument being made by lawyers is pretty clear: treaties are between Indigenous peoples and Canada, not individual provinces. If Alberta were to separate, it would effectively be tearing up those agreements. That's a huge deal for places like ours, sitting on traditional territory of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot Confederacy).
* This isn't about politics or provincial squabbles; it's about fundamental agreements. * The Kainai, Piikani, and Siksika nations, whose lands stretch across southern Alberta and into Montana, have a deep, foundational relationship with the Crown. * Any move to separate would have massive implications for treaty rights, land use, and self-governance right here on our doorstep, from the river bottom in Indian Battle Park all the way to the irrigation canals that feed our farms.
This isn't just some abstract legal discussion happening in Edmonton. This grounds the entire separatist conversation in the very soil beneath our feet. For Lethbridge residents, it means understanding that the future of Alberta isn't just about provincial borders; it's about the solemn promises made on this land, long before the High Level Bridge ever spanned the Oldman River or the university campus perched itself on the west bluff. It’s a reminder that our history here is deeper and more complex than most realize.
Jolene Blackwater, MiTL Sports Desk, Lethbridge.
Catch my colleagues on the Morning Wire; they're talking about this and more, live at mornings.live.