Premier's updated Alberta Day statement removing Indigenous land acknowledgement troubles Treaty 8 Grand Chief

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeNewsPolitics Premier's updated Alberta Day statement removing Indigenous land acknowledgement troubles Treaty 8 Grand Chief The correction to an already-released Alberta Day message removed recognition of Alberta's Indigenous, replacing it with legacy acknowledgement. When asked about it, the premier said it was a glitch Author of the article: By Tina Kennedy Published Sep 02, 2026 Last updated 27 minutes ago 2 minute read Join the conversation Treaty 8 Grand Chief Trevor Mercredi speaks during a press conference at the West Block on the Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday, April 13, 2026. PHOTO BY SUPPLIED Article content Deleting the province’s Indigenous land acknowledgement from the premier’s Alberta Day statement was a troubling move, says the Treaty 8 Sovereign Nations chief. Article content “At a time when First Nations people are facing increased hostility for standing up for treaty, the government should be affirming our place and history prior to Alberta’s story, not deleting it,” said Grand Chief Trevor Mercredi. Article content Article content Article content In the statement, attributed to Premier Danielle Smith, Alberta Day was described as a celebration of the province’s story. Article content Headline News Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Article content “…with the opportunity to tell it again and again, year after year after year.” Article content The original message included a paragraph recognizing the Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and their stewardship. Less than an hour after its release, however, another missive was released with an all capitalized “update” in the header. Article content The update also included new paragraphs addressing the province’s energy, opportunities and independent spirit. Article content “From the energy that powers our nation, to the food that feeds the world, to the entrepreneurs, workers and innovators who drive our economy forward, Alberta has always punched above its weight. We are a province of builders, dreamers and doers who refuse to settle for anything less than the best.” Article content When asked about the updated messaging at a news conference on Tuesday, Smith described the incident as a…