WHITEHORSE – The Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN) has passed a resolution at the General Assembly in June expressing its support for Alberta First Nations in their opposition to any referendum or efforts to separate Alberta from Canada without the consultation and consent of affected First Nations
The resolution affirms that Alberta has no legal authority to unilaterally alter constitutional agreements or impose international borders across the traditional territories of First Nations without their free, prior and informed consent. It also recognizes the position of Alberta First Nations that any attempt to separate Alberta would have significant implications for constitutionally protected treaty rights.
The CYFN General Assembly also acknowledged recent statements from Treaty 8 leadership warning that efforts to bypass Indigenous rights could lead to serious constitutional conflict.
CYFN calls upon the Government of Alberta to recognize and uphold its constitutional and treaty obligations. CYFN also echoes the Assembly of First Nations’ call for the highest levels of government to ensure that any constitutional process affecting First Nations proceeds only through meaningful consultation and with the consent of the affected First Nations.
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Treaties are legally binding, nation-to-nation agreements that must be respected. First Nations cannot be excluded from decisions that have the potential to fundamentally affect our rights, our territories and our future. The Council of Yukon First Nations stands in solidarity with Alberta First Nations as they defend the constitutional protections that generations of our leaders fought to uphold. We call on the Government of Alberta to honour its legal and constitutional obligations by engaging in meaningful consultation and obtaining the consent of the First Nations whose rights are directly impacted.
– CYFN Grand Chief Math’ieya Alatini
For further information contact:
Stephanie Joe
Communications Advisor
Council of Yukon First Nations
T: 867.393.9200 ext. 9223
cyfn.ca | communications@nullcyfn.net