Alberta chief critical of Premier Danielle Smith’s claim of Indigenous roots

EDMONTON — A First Nations leader in Alberta is questioning Premier Danielle Smith’s claim of Indigenous heritage.  

Smith has said she has some Cherokee roots and, in 2012, declared herself as a person of mixed race.

Chief Tony Alexis of Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation says that a true Indigenous person would not go against treaty people.

He made the comment at a news conference where leaders of Treaties 6, 7, and 8 say they oppose Smith’s plan to introduce an Alberta sovereignty act that would allow her government to opt out of federal measures deemed harmful to provincial interests.