Alberta premier says mistake fixed after First Nations ignored in birthday statement

Calgary - Alberta Premier Danielle Smith claims to have rectified an error today, which omitted Indigenous Peoples from her official statement celebrating the province's 121st birthday. The Premier stated that public servants made the decision to remove the sentence in the English version of the proclamation. She urged them to revert to the original statement, expressing her excitement to celebrate all those who built the province, including Indigenous Peoples.

The change, however, has drawn criticism from skeptics amid strained Indigenous relations and a forthcoming fall referendum on Alberta's potential separation. Treaty 8 Sovereign First Nations Grand Chief Trevor Mercredi expressed concern over the omission, stating that it occurs at a time when Smith's government is pushing separation-related initiatives that threaten Treaty rights.