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https://edmontonjournal.com/news/pol...us-communities

Alberta First Nations chiefs call on Lt.-Gov. to withhold royal assent on sovereignty act

‘This is a serious issue’: senior staffer
Meanwhile, a senior staffer in Indigenous Relations, speaking to Postmedia on the condition of anonymity, expressed frustration and concern with how the government developed the sovereignty act.

The staffer said consultation with First Nations during the drafting of the bill was “non-existent,” and Indigenous Relations was shut out of the process from the start.

The staffer said Indigenous Relations Minister Rick Wilson’s office had raised Indigenous concerns with cabinet, but it got “zero support from leadership.”

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A separate senior government source, also speaking on the condition of anonymity, corroborated those claims, adding there was no Indigenous stakeholder engagement plan during the development of Bill 1.

The Indigenous Relations staffer said it appeared Smith was sloughing off the issue and expecting it to blow over.

“It’s not — this is a serious issue.”

“It has me so frustrated and minister (Wilson) so upset that we’re the ones that are having to bail out the government on this,” the staffer said.

“We’re seeing all our relations we built just sort of go up in smoke, which is unfortunate.”

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On Sunday, Hadyn Place, a spokesman for Wilson’s office, said in a statement in response to the staffer’s comments the premier and Wilson have held meetings with several Indigenous groups and reached out to a variety of Indigenous leaders since First Nations chiefs raised concerns.

“That work will continue and more meetings are planned,” he said.

When pressed in question period in the legislature Thursday about her government’s decision to not consult with Indigenous communities ahead of introducing Bill 1, Smith said she was happy to meet with chiefs and the Kee Tas Kee Naw Tribal Council (KTC) — after the bill had passed.

Just a lib -- oh wait, what, a Minister?