Jurisdiction is not solely Alberta's

The previous Government worked hard to implement policies and programs that address the historic harms committed against Indigenous Peoples. Treaty 6, Treaty 7 and Treaty 8 did not relinquish jurisdiction to Canada nor Alberta (a province younger than the Treaties). The Natural Resources Transfer Agreements, 1930 transferred management of resources to the Province, this province has demonstrated that they are not capable of sound land management, perhaps management of resources should be transferred back to the Indigenous Peoples of this land. It is important to acknowledge that First Nations from across the prairie provinces are opposed to the NRTA as it violates their rights and was enacted during a time that First Nations and Metis were struggling from disease, hunger, separation from children, land, culture & language; not to mention there was NO consultation and it was illegal for First Nations to retain legal counsel. This legislation is not a source of Canadian pride!

This agreement will undermine the progress made since the enactment of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People's Act, 2021. When Alberta is the sole authority or decision maker the Action Plan Measures, that were agreed to in consultation with Indigenous Peoples, will no longer apply for major projects that are not federally regulated. How will this agreement honour the Indigenous Oversight Forum (CER-Action plan measure 34), the Indigenous Ministerial Arrangement Regulations, Indigenous guardianship programs and Indigenous oversight? Alberta will never agree to these types of arrangements and it will never contemplate Indigenous Authority over land and resources. Is this Canada's goal, to find a way out of these commitments?

The second 'whereas' of the Agreement only recognizes Alberta's jurisdiction, this is inherently wrong and violates Canada's UNDRIPAct. This Agreement cannot go forward in the current draft, Indigenous peoples must be at the table to draft this agreement with Canada and Alberta, they are the original stewards of these lands after all.