What should have been the normal issuing of a statement by the premier marking Alberta’s 121st birthday instead generated backlash on Tuesday, when two different messages were released within an hour of each other.
The first Alberta Day statement attributed to Premier Danielle Smith, issued at 10 a.m., focused on inclusion, cultural recognition and community.
The second statement issued by the province less than an hour later was longer and placed greater emphasis on Alberta’s economic achievements, identity, freedom and sovereignty.
A recognition of Indigenous Peoples and their role in Alberta’s development was also removed from the second statement, as was a line about who the day recognizes.
“We celebrate everyone who calls Alberta home and the people, stories and cultures that continue to shape our province” changed to “We celebrate the people, stories and traditions that have helped make Alberta the most prosperous and dynamic province in all of Canada.”
At an unrelated news conference Tuesday afternoon, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said she stepped in to fix a “glitch” that saw Indigenous Peoples erased from her official statement marking the province’s 121st birthday.
Smith said public servants made the move, and she urged them to revert to the original statement.
Get daily National news
“The public service posted one statement and then took it down and put up another one. I said, ‘Why didn’t you just put up the original one?’ I thought it was fine, so I’m not exactly sure what happened with that glitch,” Smith said.
The change drew online backlash and concern from critics amid tense Indigenous relations and a looming fall referendum on Alberta separation.
Treaty 8 Sovereign First Nations Grand Chief Trevor Mercredi said the omission was concerning since it comes at a time when he says Smith’s government is advancing separation-related initiatives that challenge Treaty rights.
“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,” Mercredi said in a statement.
“Respect for First Nations must be reflected in the government’s words, actions and relationships.”
The Opposition NDP believe the premier and her staff are trying to push blame.
“The premier’s own Twitter account pushed the statement that had Indigenous folks removed from it,” said NDP MLA Sarah Hoffman, who questioned who has access to the premier’s social media.
- Calgary councillor seeks provincial probe into closed-door meetings after document leak
- Mark Carney meets with ‘Forever Canadian’ campaigners in Banff
- Nova Scotia to expand protections for people affected by AI-generated intimate images
- N.S. premier invites the public to build and submit their own provincial budgets
“I know that Rachel (Notley)’s account and I know that Naheed (Nenshi)’s account is ran by them personally and political staff, not public servants.”
The rewrite also drew heat from the Opposition NDP’s Jodi Calahoo Stonehouse, who is a Cree and Mohawk member of the legislature.
“You might be able to erase us from your statement, but you will never erase us off our land,” she said on social media.
Mount Royal University political scientist Lori Williams believes the damage is already done — error or not.
“It’s a bit surprising that they would let something like that out in error. It unfortunately gives the impression that the correction was an afterthought,” Williams said.
She said the UCP government is already dealing with a public perception that respect for Indigenous perspectives and consultation is secondary.
“Any additional apparent disrespect or oversight is going to add to the impression that respect for Indigenous communities in Alberta from the UCP government is insufficient.”
Smith says she’s excited to celebrate everyone who built the province, including Indigenous Peoples.
“We’re just excited to be able to celebrate Alberta Day and all of the various cultures and diaspora communities, including Indigenous Peoples who have helped to build the province.”
As of Tuesday afternoon, Smith’s statement, published on social media, did not recognize Indigenous Peoples. The government’s website was updated with her initial statement including Indigenous Peoples.
— With files from The Canadian Press
Is a politicians lips moving? They’re lying.
Smith is promising to swamp us with a media campaign to tell us the governments position on the referendums. Odd, I thought the whole idea of referendums was for the government to hear what the opinion of the voters was, not to badger us into voting what she wants.
Smith – refusing to listen to her voters as always.
They are proud of being in their own nation. We hear it all the time. Why do we have to mention them in ours?
Because they are brittle, spoiled, self centered children you say?
Not a glitch at all .just testing to see how much they can get away with
If I kept screwing up this bad all the time at my job, I probably be fired. Maybe this should be an option right now.
While my ancestors were discovering science, electricity, physics, math they were weaving baskets, and that’s all they are good at till now
The glitch being she’s a separatist racist cow
Really fed up with FN seoaratists who wanted their own nation with benefits & still whine & demand, burn, wreck statues, etc., believing they are superior and deserve the respect that they haven’t earned or give to Canadians while being coddled & catered to. They wonder why we see race instead of them as people as part of Canada. Well, newsflash!! They put themselves out there as separate and better than us while they bite the hands that feed them & keep taking. I have no tolerance, understanding, compassion, and certainly no respect especially with the younger ones & young chiefs who are on the war path against anyone who isn’t Aboriginal and colonization. Because in 76 years of life & (and working on/off reserves for 40 plus,) I saw, and learned more truth than can be reconciled. The laws need to change to include all Canadians and stop this pettiness with AFN. In fact there shouldn’t be an AFN with benefits & entitlements because there is no equalityfor Canadians.
the glitch being she’s a racist pos…
Name one thing they did to build Alberta???
Anyone????
What do victims do best? They whine. I wonder what the FN ancestors would think about their descendants desperately trying to get a token acknowledgement from the white man.
@ L F
Are you talking about the Alberta separatists that are actively trying to take over everyone’s algorithms?
Enough with race, religious and gender groups wanting to be identified or acknowledged for everything. It’s like a 5yr old needing recognition every 5 minutes…..
Never apologize to them, they’re a federal issue. They want nothing to do with us. They don’t even want their own people to prosper, but to stay dependent on federal gov’t handouts. They all need new chiefs, such poor leadership.
Awwwww poor Indigenous. More important and deserving than the rest of us people who don”t want two nations in one. Care for some cheese with that whine?
Can we not celebrate Alberta and all Albertans without having to acknowledge a minor special interest group?
Exactly how have the natives helped build our province? NADA! they have been leaches and stumbling blocks. This is a prime example. Should they not be happy as Albertans to celebrate Alberta day without trying to bring their ethnic roots into it? Enough!
Randal is so right.
I remember Rachel Notley’s New Year address to the province years ago. Not one mention of the indigenous. The indigenous complained but was there a media uproar like this?
No!
@Tom
It was the statement “that have helped make Alberta most prosperous and dynamic province”
The indigenous haven’t done any of that so they feel left out.
“We celebrate everyone who calls Alberta home and the people, stories and cultures that continue to shape our province” CHANGED to “We celebrate the people, stories and traditions that have helped make Alberta the most prosperous and dynamic province in all of Canada.”
I don’t understand the fuss…
Yeah not intentional. Haha, her little reign gets worse and worse.
Alberta do yourself a favor. Shut her down and shut the f8cking whining indians done too.
“glitch” yeah, like that wasn’t intentional.
What a twat.
They pay no taxes yet they want a birthday party? Methinks that thou protest too much. Just shut up and watch the world burn. You got what you wanted. You probably lit the match, with your cheap cigarettes. Tell me I’m wrong… Say it ain’t so…..
Dear Liberals and F.N.
SHUT UP !!! No one wants to listen to your whining !!!!
She’s a cagey witch.
Ok. Yeah. Fine. Alright. Alsndjalamds(!’!833-oenxs
A recognition of Indigenous Peoples and their role in Alberta’s development???. Hands out, cheques issued, buy toys and trucks, bash the white man and always asking for help?
Typical conservative. Doesn’t take responsibility and blames civil servants.
FNs upset, offended and whining? It’s so not like them.
It is funny how settler colonial state deludes itself into thinking its a highly respected country in the world.
boo hoo
Soon, they will be permanently removed. Can’t wait…
Oh well lol