‘Silence could be consent’: Alberta First Nations push to get out vote for referendum

Edmonton — Angel Houle, a member of the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations, says she's never voted in an Alberta provincial election, but this month's referendum is different. Houle and other staff at her organization are helping First Nations' leaders prepare for the Oct. 19 vote, which will decide whether Alberta should remain part of Canada or hold a second referendum on breaking away.

The staff are organizing workshops to build voting teams and spread the word on where and how to cast ballots. Houle urges Albertans not to remain silent, as "silence could be consent" in the referendum.

The outcome of the referendum matters deeply to treaty people, their nations, and future generations, Houle emphasizes. She believes community members are eager to participate and have their voices heard. The referendum is just one of 10 questions in the vote, with the remaining focusing on immigration and constitutional issues.

Alberta First Nations are rallying support for the vote, but their efforts have exposed rifts between them and Premier Danielle Smith's United Conservative Party government. Smith maintains that First Nations remain valued partners, yet leaders feel their concerns, including the treatment of their treaties, have been overlooked in the separation debate.

Some First Nations nations have sought help from seasoned organizers, like Tania Cameron, who has previously worked on similar campaigns across Canada.

Cameron reports a growing momentum in the campaign, with people actively organizing voter registration drives, educating others about treaties, and participating in ceremonies to recognize the importance of the work. Alberta First Nations witnessed a high turnout in the 2015 federal election, which boosted on-reserve voting to nearly 25 percentage points higher.

Cameron believes the same energy can be replicated in the referendum. However, there are challenges, such as ensuring everyone has the necessary identification, getting community members to polling stations, and overcoming language barriers. To address these issues, First Nations groups are translating the questions into different languages, planning to have chiefs and officials present at polling stations, and reaching out to off-reserve members through information sessions.

Despite the hurdles, voting demand is already high, with Elections Alberta having issued more than 652,000 mail-in ballots. The agency estimates an 85% turnout, surpassing the provincial record from the 1935 general election. Some First Nations chiefs have already expressed their stance against separatism, with one chief at the legislature calling on the UCP government to denounce separatism.

A court challenge against the referendum petition was dismissed, and the government has since announced an appeal, leaving the legal status of the referendum uncertain. Tsuut'ina Nation Head Chief Ellery Starlight acknowledges the vote's importance but criticizes the division it has caused, arguing that all Albertans share responsibility for unity.