EDMONTON — An Alberta chief is calling for more respect from the provincial government after its Indigenous relations minister missed a marquee event marking the 150th anniversary of the signing of Treaty 6.

Joey Pete, the grand chief of the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations, says the lack of representation from Premier Danielle Smith’s government “says a lot.”

The event, hosted today by the City of Edmonton and Mayor Andrew Knack at city hall, saw Indigenous dignitaries participate in ceremonies while officials from all levels of government delivered speeches.

Pete says the upcoming Alberta separation referendum and talk of building new pipelines is a major concern for him, but says the province hasn’t made the time to sit down and talk.

Indigenous Relations Minister Rajan Sawhney’s office says the minister is away but is committed to maintaining strong relationships.

Sawhney’s office, in a statement, says the 150th anniversary is a significant milestone and a time to reflect on its history while also looking ahead.

The event at city hall marks the beginning of a week’s worth of events in Edmonton commemorating the anniversary, including a re-enactment of the signing itself.

There are events planned for the weekend at Fort Carlton in Saskatchewan, where the treaty was originally signed.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 17, 2026.

Jack Farrell, The Canadian Press