by Talking to Albertans
«In this video, I’m walking through Rundle Park in Edmonton with Brian, an Indigenous Albertan with Treaty 6 roots, and we get into a real, unfiltered conversation about Alberta independence, Indigenous issues in Canada, and what a better path forward could actually look like.
Brian supports Alberta independence. And he’s not alone.
We talk about the reality that many Indigenous people quietly support independence but don’t get represented in the public narrative. Instead, what you usually see are chiefs and political leadership speaking to the media, often presenting a unified position that doesn’t reflect everyone on the ground.
This conversation goes much deeper than that.
We get into the core problems with the current system, including the role of the federal government and the Indian Act, which we both agree has created long-term dependency and contributed to poverty on many reserves. We also talk openly about corruption at the leadership level on some reserves, and how watching chiefs appeal to the King of England is not only outdated, but embarrassing in a country that claims to be sovereign.
We also discuss the bigger picture:
Why both of us reject the idea of being subjects of a King
How Alberta independence would allow us to build a system based on real, inalienable rights instead of government-controlled privileges
The difference between how things are today and what they could look like under a Republic of Alberta
A major part of this conversation is about treaties and what happens next.
We explore multiple options honestly:
Leaving the treaties exactly as they are
Renegotiating them under a new Alberta framework
Creating a structured transition, such as trust-based payouts or long-term agreements
The idea of grandfathering in hunting rights for a set number of generations as a way of honoring existing agreements while moving toward a new system
We’re clear about one thing. You can’t build a new country and immediately break contracts. If Alberta becomes independent, it has to be done in a way that is credible, stable, and fair.
At the same time, we acknowledge that both the Indian Act and aspects of the treaty system are fundamentally flawed and, in many ways, rooted in outdated and discriminatory structures that are still affecting people today.
We also talk about:
The philosophy that the land owns the people, not the other way around
The history of Treaty 6 and how different bands had very different experiences, including those not directly impacted by residential schools
The ongoing poverty and social challenges on many reserves
Why a new system could create better incentives, accountability, and outcomes
This isn’t about ignoring problems. It’s about finally addressing them.
Alberta independence creates the opportunity to reset the relationship, deal with these issues directly, and build something that actually works for the people living here today, Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike.
This was an honest conversation between two people who both want to see real progress and are willing to talk about difficult issues to get there.
If you care about Alberta independence, Indigenous issues, and the future of this province, this is a conversation you need to hear.»