“This is about more than one health service,” officials wrote. “It is about Indigenous sovereignty. It is about our responsibility to care for one another.”
Big cheers for the Saddle Lake Cree Nation, for exercising the “medicine” clause in their treaty with the Canadian government and pushing back against the provincial government’s care ban.
I don’t know if other tribal treaties include a clause like this, but perhaps the principles of autonomy can be interpreted to include medical autonomy.
I wish them very well and welcome their courage. They made the correct call.
"although in both First Nations and reservations, individuals can still be bound by state or federal criminal law." <-- I hope the bad guys don't find a way to bite them on the a$$ with that.
The Medicine Chest clause for Treaty 6 is an obligation by the Crown/Federal government to Treaty 6 Nations, including Saddle Lake Cree Nation. It would be very, very unwise for the province of Alberta to challenge this. Cheers and good wishes.
I applaud the Saddle Lake Cree Nation of Alberta for standing up for its transgender youth and taking a courageous stand against bigoted laws that threaten their rights, dignity, and well-being.
This is what leadership looks like: protecting your young people instead of sacrificing them to political agendas and prejudice.
I only wish more First Nations across our country would take the same stand and make it unmistakably clear that transgender youth belong, deserve protection, and will not be used as political targets.
No child should have to fight their own community for the right to exist as who they are. Protecting transgender youth is not about politics—it is about humanity, dignity, and standing up for your own people.
I suspect the First Nations peoples know a thing or two about governments telling people who they are or are not allowed to be. They've learned from history- learned, and remained on guard. Alberta's provincial government clearly hasn't.
So appreciate the hundreds of generations of First Nations culture. If you're in Ottawa, plan to visit the Musee de Civilisation right across the river in Hull. You won't be disappointed. Histories both heartbreaking and inspiring. Thank you for the coverage, S. Baum!
Alberta is the Texas of Canada. They don't even know why they hate transgender people but they just do because that's what MAGA does and Canada's conservatives have no more coherent or articulate message than THAT. They would probably start tariff wars if they could for the same lack of rationale.
As a Canadian and Albertan, I can verify that this is accurate. I could #notallAlbertans about it, but I'm pretty sure that's true of Texas, too - many individuals who don't like this crap, only a small fraction that actually support the hate-filled specifics, and way too many who just have way too much of their identity wrapped up in the idea that being Albertan means being conservative and support whatever the UCP tells them constitutes Twoo Conservatism.
I see✨ shines & glimmers ✨…the light of hope, justice, and love in our midst. This weary world and my own beleaguered heart ♥️ can find a reason to keep faith and continue moving forward.
Big cheers for the Saddle Lake Cree Nation, for exercising the “medicine” clause in their treaty with the Canadian government and pushing back against the provincial government’s care ban.
I don’t know if other tribal treaties include a clause like this, but perhaps the principles of autonomy can be interpreted to include medical autonomy.
Any resistance is appreciated.
I wish them very well and welcome their courage. They made the correct call.
"although in both First Nations and reservations, individuals can still be bound by state or federal criminal law." <-- I hope the bad guys don't find a way to bite them on the a$$ with that.
Thank you Baum.
The Medicine Chest clause for Treaty 6 is an obligation by the Crown/Federal government to Treaty 6 Nations, including Saddle Lake Cree Nation. It would be very, very unwise for the province of Alberta to challenge this. Cheers and good wishes.
I am not familiar with the details of the laws involved. I hope their autonomy is on par with treaties between fully sovereign entities.
I applaud the Saddle Lake Cree Nation of Alberta for standing up for its transgender youth and taking a courageous stand against bigoted laws that threaten their rights, dignity, and well-being.
This is what leadership looks like: protecting your young people instead of sacrificing them to political agendas and prejudice.
I only wish more First Nations across our country would take the same stand and make it unmistakably clear that transgender youth belong, deserve protection, and will not be used as political targets.
No child should have to fight their own community for the right to exist as who they are. Protecting transgender youth is not about politics—it is about humanity, dignity, and standing up for your own people.
Well said, Mike. I love their tribal identity as “two-spirit young people.” Sharing this wonderful article:
8 Two-Spirit Artists, Activists, and Healers Showing the World Queerness is Indigenous https://www.them.us/story/two-spirit-indigenous-activists
Beautifully written. I wholeheartedly concur.
I suspect the First Nations peoples know a thing or two about governments telling people who they are or are not allowed to be. They've learned from history- learned, and remained on guard. Alberta's provincial government clearly hasn't.
Please can First Nation People run our communities (again)?
I was thinking the same thing.
Not just people like us they are more intune with the environment too
So appreciate the hundreds of generations of First Nations culture. If you're in Ottawa, plan to visit the Musee de Civilisation right across the river in Hull. You won't be disappointed. Histories both heartbreaking and inspiring. Thank you for the coverage, S. Baum!
If Alberta secedes from Canada, can the First Nations of Alberta unsecede? Gets to the heart of sovereignty.
Alberta is the Texas of Canada. They don't even know why they hate transgender people but they just do because that's what MAGA does and Canada's conservatives have no more coherent or articulate message than THAT. They would probably start tariff wars if they could for the same lack of rationale.
As a Canadian and Albertan, I can verify that this is accurate. I could #notallAlbertans about it, but I'm pretty sure that's true of Texas, too - many individuals who don't like this crap, only a small fraction that actually support the hate-filled specifics, and way too many who just have way too much of their identity wrapped up in the idea that being Albertan means being conservative and support whatever the UCP tells them constitutes Twoo Conservatism.
Good for the Cree Nation! Inspiring.
Thank you 🙏 for this report.
I see✨ shines & glimmers ✨…the light of hope, justice, and love in our midst. This weary world and my own beleaguered heart ♥️ can find a reason to keep faith and continue moving forward.
I’m so relieved and grateful for the example of the Saddle Lake Cree Nation. 💗💗💗
The wisdom of the elders is palpable here.
Excellent. Thank you Saddle Lake Cree Nation
Hoka Hai!! Yes I know it's Lakota Sioux, and not Cree, but I don't know any Cree.
Bravo!
Hell yea, eh!!!
Thanks, S. Baum, for this awesome report and for the useful link to donations.
I hope that some of the Tribal Nations in the US will respond similar to this Cree. band in Alberta.