Alberta First Nations Launch Voter Drive Ahead of October Referendum on Provincial Status

Alberta will hold a provincial referendum on October 19 that includes a question on whether the province should remain part of Canada or begin the legal process for a second binding referendum on leaving the country. First Nations leaders are organizing to increase on-reserve voter turnout against separatism by replicating the 2015 Rock the Vote campaign.

Grand Chief Trevor Mercredi of Treaty 8 First Nations told Cbc News the effort must focus on getting people registered and to the polls.

In 2011, on-reserve turnout stood at 33.3 per cent in the federal election. That figure rose to 56.6 per cent in 2015, when Alberta recorded the highest on-reserve participation among provinces. Tania Cameron of Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation created the original campaign from her living room.

She developed an ID toolkit and hosted registration drives that allowed confirmation of residency forms signed by First Nations leadership. Cameron said she is offering the same tools to Alberta communities to defend treaty rights. The Assembly of First Nations passed an emergency resolution on Thursday stating that no province has the legal authority to alter treaty rights or the constitutional relationship between First Nations and the Crown.

Former national chief Matthew Coon Come said Quebec chiefs stand in solidarity with Alberta chiefs. AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak stated that separatists are not taking any land with them. Chief Kelsey Jacko of Cold Lake First Nations said communities will fight in court to protect treaties regardless of the referendum outcome.

Elections Alberta does not track on-reserve votes or ballots cast by First Nations people off-reserve.