Saddle Lake Cree Nation asserts treaty rights over access to gender-affirming care

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeNewsLocal NewsPolitics Saddle Lake Cree Nation asserts treaty rights over access to gender-affirming care "Our people know all too well the consequences of governments removing the rights of parents to be parents, and children to be children — and we will not allow what happened to us to happen ever again" Author of the article: By Jason Hills Published Sep 09, 2026 2 minute read Join the conversation Saddle Lake Cree First Nation is pursuing measures to create protection for gender-affirming care on its reserve land and territories by restoring access to life-saving medical care for all individuals within treaty territory. PHOTO BY SCREENGRAB Article content Saddle Lake Cree First Nation is pursuing measures to create protection for gender-affirming care on its reserve land and territories by restoring access to life-saving medical care for all individuals within treaty territory. Article content This historic move creates a pivotal national precedent for Indigenous health jurisdiction across Canada. Article content Article content By asserting its sovereign right to regulate health care on treaty lands, Saddle Lake Cree Nation provides a legal and operational blueprint for First Nations across the country to protect vulnerable communities and maintain human rights against legislation decisions made by the Alberta provincial government in recent years. Article content Article content Okimawskwew Chief Dale Steinhauer said it’s their primary responsibility to protect their people and their health, and they’re against anyone who goes against basic human rights, and they are not ready to back down. 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 “Our people know all too well the consequences of governments removing the rights of parents to be parents, and children to be children — and we will not allow what happened to us to happen ever again,” said Steinhauer in a news release. Article content “When we are being stolen from our parents and experienced genocide in Indian residential schools, we wondered, ‘Who are the people that will help us?’ Today, we are those people. Today, we offer our help, support and jurisdiction to override these…