Profile: Troy Knowlton

Wooden gavel resting on legal books beside brass scales of justice

‘Historic victory’ for Piikani as court quashes separatist petition

Written on May 20, 2026. Posted in Civic & Government.

Piikani Nation is calling a recent Alberta Court of King’s Bench decision a “historic victory” for treaty rights. A May 13 ruling by Justice Shaina Leonard struck down the approval of a citizen-led petition that would have triggered a referendum on Alberta separating from Canada.

Chief Troy Knowlton says the decision affirms that Treaty 7 is a “living, constitutionally protected agreement” that cannot be overridden by a citizen-led initiative or provincial referendum.

Leonard’s decision quashed chief electoral officer Gordon McClure’s approval of the Referendum Relating to Alberta Independence petition, finding he made an error in law that rendered the approval unreasonable.

The court also found the province failed in its duty to consult First Nations, including the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, Blood Tribe, Piikani Nation and Siksika Nation, before allowing the process to advance.

In her ruling, Leonard says approval of the petition triggered a legally binding chain of events under Alberta’s Citizen Initiative Act, including a mandatory referendum if enough signatures were verified.

The court found Elections Alberta failed to properly consider earlier judicial findings that a secession proposal would violate treaty rights protected under the Constitution.

The legal backdrop

Leonard’s ruling builds on a Dec. 6, 2025 decision by Justice Colin Feasby, who found a referendum proposal seeking Alberta’s separation would violate treaty rights.

Days later, on Dec. 11, the provincial government amended the Citizen Initiative Act to remove a requirement that referendum proposals be compatible with Charter and treaty rights. A transitional provision applied the change to the existing petition, allowing it to move forward.

An older couple smiles while leaning on a wooden railing outdoors, above text describing their $879 profit share from Vision Credit Union and a website link.

Leonard’s ruling casts doubt over the future of the petition.

Stay Free Alberta, the campaign led by Mitch Sylvestre, CEO of the Alberta Prosperity Project, says it had gathered more than 300,000 signatures — well above the roughly 178,000 required to trigger referendum consideration under Alberta’s citizen initiative rules.

The signatures have not been counted. Stay Free Alberta delivered the petition to Elections Alberta on May 4, but the agency was barred from verifying signatures by an interim court injunction issued in April. The boxes remain locked in a secure Elections Alberta facility.

Piikani Nation: Treaty not ‘historical footnote’

For Knowlton, who also serves as president of the Blackfoot Confederacy, Leonard’s ruling validates a position First Nations have maintained from the beginning.

“Treaty 7 is not a historical footnote — it is a living, constitutionally protected agreement that established a nation-to-nation relationship and guaranteed our rights to our lands, our way of life, and our self-determination,” Knowlton says.

“The court has confirmed that those rights cannot be ignored, overridden, or placed at risk by a citizen initiative or provincial referendum.”

He says the ruling makes clear that any attempt to sever Alberta from Canada without proper consultation and accommodation of First Nations rights is “unlawful and unconstitutional.”

He says Piikani Nation “remains committed to protecting our treaty rights through every lawful means available.”

Ad for Blinds and More Fall Sale: 40% off Alta Blinds from Sept 15 to Nov 30, 2026. Living room with large windows covered by wood blinds. Contact info and locations listed.

Smith calls ruling ‘anti-democratic,’ vows appeal

The Alberta government says it will appeal the decision.

Premier Danielle Smith, responding to questions at an unrelated press conference on May 13, called the ruling “incorrect in law and anti-democratic,” saying it would deny “well over 300,000 Albertans” the opportunity to have their petition verified.

She says cabinet and caucus will meet to review next steps.

Smith also suggests the ruling raises broader questions about independence movements in Canada and said Alberta would likely seek to continue the legal argument at a higher court.

She maintains the citizen initiative process was designed to be permissive and says the government remains committed to hearing from Albertans.

May 16 appeal

Stay Free Alberta filed its own appeal on May 16. Sylvestre’s lawyer, Jeffrey Rath, says the group will request that the appeal be fast-tracked.

The court filing lists more than a dozen grounds for appeal, including arguments that Leonard erred in finding McClure’s approval unreasonable and in finding that the Crown had a duty to consult in this case.

Opposition tells Smith to accept court decision

Opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi welcomes the decision. Calling out Smith directly, he says the ruling exposed her government’s failure to uphold its legal obligations and urges the premier to “accept the court’s decision.”

Nenshi praises the First Nations who led the legal fight, calling them fearless and saying they acted not just for their own communities but for all Albertans and all Canadians.

He says the referendum proposal is “dead” and calls on the premier to abandon any further effort to revive it, warning that pursuing it would be costly and divisive.

“Albertans are proud Canadians and want nothing more than to move on from this and focus on the things that really matter,” Nenshi says.

The petition at the centre of the case asked Albertans: “Do you agree that the Province of Alberta should cease to be a part of Canada to become an independent state?”

It was approved in January, before being challenged in court by First Nations groups over constitutional and treaty concerns.

Alberta Independence | Separation, Citizen Initiative Act, Citizen-Led Petitions, Constitutional Law, Duty To Consult, First Nations, Treaty 7, Treaty Rights

Piikani Nation welcomes court’s pause of separation referendum process

Written on April 22, 2026. Posted in Civic & Government.

Piikani Nation says a Court of King’s Bench ruling recognizes the risk of “irreparable harm” to treaty rights if a petition seeking a referendum on Alberta’s separation from Canada moves forward without legal review.

“This decision confirms that there are real legal issues at stake that must be addressed before this process goes any further,” Chief Troy Knowlton says in an April 13 statement.

“You cannot advance a process of this magnitude while sidestepping the Constitution and the treaties that are foundational to this country.”

Knowlton says treaty rights are constitutionally protected and cannot be overridden through a referendum process.

“This is fundamentally about the rule of law,” he says.

“This is not about politics. It is about ensuring that the legal and constitutional framework of this country is respected. That is in the interest of all Albertans.”

In her April 10 ruling, Justice Shaina Leonard granted a stay she said protects treaty rights and upholds the rule of law. This prevents Alberta’s chief electoral officer from certifying petition results until legal challenges are resolved.

She ruled that failing to grant the stay would inconvenience First Nations more than granting it would inconvenience the respondents.

Event poster for a Secondhand Dreamcar concert at the Empress Theatre on November 20, 2026, at 7:30 PM, featuring a photo of the band members.

The case stems from a citizen-led petition seeking a referendum on Alberta separation, launched under the Citizen Initiative Act.

Last December, Justice Colin Feasby ruled the legislation did not allow citizens to initiate a referendum on provincial independence. Days later, the provincial government amended the act, lowering the number of required signatures and extending the collection timeline.

Following those changes, a second petition question was submitted by Mitch Sylvestre, CEO of the Alberta Prosperity Project. It was approved by the chief electoral officer, allowing signature collection to proceed. The current deadline to gather 177,732 signatures from eligible electors is May 2. According to the APP, that number has already been surpassed.

Piikani Nation, Siksika Nation and the Blood Tribe collectively, and Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation launched legal challenges, arguing the referendum process raises serious constitutional concerns and fails to uphold the Crown’s duty to consult.

The First Nations asked the court to pause the process until the legal issues are fully heard.

“The court’s decision recognizes what Piikani Nation and other Blackfoot Nations have argued from the outset, that this process raises serious constitutional questions and carries the risk of irreparable harm to treaty rights and the relationship between First Nations and the Crown,” says Chief Knowlton.

The stay does not halt ongoing signature collection or change the deadline. However, it blocks the chief electoral officer from certifying results or taking further steps once signatures are submitted.

Under the Citizen Initiative Act, a successful petition would be forwarded to the government and could lead to a provincewide referendum.

Job ad for “Shootin’ the Breeze” seeks part-time and full-time staff for photography, writing, and reporting; contact publisher@shootinthebreeze.ca. Background shows printed news text and a hand holding a voice recorder.

The court heard arguments April 8 and 9 and is expected to issue a decision on the merits of the case in about a month, meaning the stay will be in place for a relatively short period.

Knowlton says Piikani Nation will continue working with other members of the Blackfoot Confederacy and First Nations to ensure constitutional protections are upheld and treaty relationships are respected.

Alberta Independence | Separation, Citizen Initiative Act, Constitutional Law, Duty To Consult, First Nations Métis and Inuit | FNMI, Treaty Rights

Graphic of a hand holding a magnifying glass over the word "fraud."

Piikani chief commends staff after alleged PRDL fraud uncovered

Written on February 11, 2026. Posted in RCMP & Public Safety.

Piikani Nation Chief Troy Knowlton has commended staff for identifying financial irregularities at Piikani Resource Development Ltd., a discovery that led to fraud charges against Piikani RCMP Const. Grant Shade and his wife, Katrina Shade, a former PRDL employee.

Alberta RCMP laid charges against the couple in January following an extensive investigation. Both were charged with fraud over $5,000 and theft over $5,000, while Const. Shade also faces a charge of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.

“Needless to say, I am very disappointed that PRDL and Piikani have been victimized,” Knowlton said in a statement last Thursday.

“However, I want to commend staff who discovered the irregularities and the auditors who worked to find their source. The situation could have been much worse, was it not for their diligence and reporting.”

Knowlton told the community that measures would be taken to prevent similar issues in the future.

“Lessons have been learned from this situation,” he said. “Council will discuss ways to ensure nothing like this can happen again in any of our business or administrative units. We are committed to the highest standards of accountability.”

Irregularities at PRDL were first noticed in 2024, prompting chief and council to request an independent financial audit. Results of the audit, showing the alleged discrepancies, were handed over to local RCMP.

The Alberta RCMP Serious Crimes Branch subsequently launched an investigation into possible fraud committed by the officer and his wife against PRDL. Charges against the couple were laid Jan. 9.

Const. Shade, an RCMP officer since 2021, is currently suspended with pay.

Both the accused are scheduled to appear Feb. 18 at the Alberta court of justice in Fort Macleod.

Ace of spades card on ad for Chase the Ace at the Pincher Creek Legion

Strong local journalism matters to Canadian communities

This article was reported and written by Shootin’ the Breeze’s Local Journalism Initiative reporter.

The Local Journalism Initiative is a federally funded program that supports original public-interest journalism in smaller or underserved communities across Canada. Content produced through the initiative is editorially independent and may be shared by other Canadian media outlets.

Stories like this are reported to keep readers informed and connected — and to reflect real Canadian life.

Alberta | AB, Crime

An Indigenous man speaks at a podium with a sign reading "Telling Alberta’s stories." Behind him are museum displays, including a bison illustration and interpretive panels.

Chief Knowlton urges Alberta to support Piikani tourism development

Written on July 16, 2025. Posted in Alberta.

‘Help us to help ourselves’: Piikani chief calls for tourism site at exhibit launch

Piikani Nation Chief Troy (Bossman) Knowlton is calling on the Alberta government and tourism bodies to support the creation of an information site near Highway 3 — a place that would showcase Piikani culture and draw travellers into Blackfoot traditional territory.

Speaking at the unveiling of a new exhibit at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump on June 18, Knowlton seized the moment to deliver a direct appeal to provincial leaders and Indigenous tourism representatives in attendance.

He emphasized that while the site draws as many as 60,000 visitors annually, nearby Piikani Nation remains largely absent from the tourism map. Knowlton urged Alberta Tourism and Indigenous Tourism Alberta to work with Piikani to develop local attractions that highlight authentic Indigenous culture.

“Right across the road is Piikani. How do you get to recognize us? How do you assist us to create tourism stops, whether they can be destinations or part of the route that people could plan on?” Knowlton asked Indigenous Tourism Alberta.

He also highlighted ongoing negotiations with the Government of Alberta and Alberta Transportation regarding the twinning of Highway 3, noting that thousands of vehicles travel the highway daily.

“As part of the negotiations, I would like to see a museum, cultural interpretive centre, or something along that line that will pull people in and allow us to have a site or have an area for our crafters, our storytellers and other parts of our culture that we could share,” he said.

Knowlton directed his comments to officials present, including Tanya Fir, Alberta’s minister of arts, culture and status of women, and representatives from Indigenous Tourism Alberta.

Get Stuff’d meat and seafood shop sign, located at 214 13th St. in Fort Macleod, open Thursday through Saturday from 12 noon to 6 p.m., phone 368-996-1968, follow us on Facebook at Get Stuff’d.

“I am putting this to you, and I am going to tell everybody else who will listen until they are sick and tired of me saying this,” he said. “Bring that to your ministry, because I sure am.”

Knowlton also called on them to help Piikani strengthen tourism opportunities.

“We have got rodeos, we have got powwows,” he said. “There are a number of good things happening on the nation, and a lot of it we could self-fund, but I don’t think we should only self-fund. I think we ought to have partnerships that we could build that would be long-lasting,” he said.

“Help us to help ourselves. We’re not asking for a handout. We’re asking for a hand up,” he appealed.

The event marked the opening of a new Buffalo Hunt exhibit, a reimagined diorama exhibit that explores the spiritual and cultural significance of buffalo hunting — a tradition that sustained the Plains Peoples for generations.

“It’s a beautiful diorama that depicts the buffalo jump,” said Knowlton. “This entire centre has done a lot to preserve our culture and our heritage. This new addition will add to that and educate people worldwide when they come here.”

Located on the traditional territory of the Blackfoot Confederacy, Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that preserves more than 6,000 years of Plains Buffalo culture.

During his speech, Knowlton connected personal stories of growing up fishing and hunting along the Oldman River with the deeper cultural history embedded in the land surrounding the Buffalo Jump.

He recounted finding remnants of past campsites — firepits, animal bones and boiling pits — exposed along the riverbanks during spring runoff.

“That tells the story of our existence there,” he said. “This entire river valley is full of those types of sites.”

Joining Knowlton at the launch were Minister Fir, Kainai Nation Chief Travis Plaited Hair, Livingstone-Macleod MLA Chelsea Petrovic, and Canadian Museum of History curator Tim Foran, along with elders, knowledge keepers and other dignitaries.

Alberta | AB, Alberta First Nations, Cultural Perspectives, Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump – Alberta, Indigenous culture, Indigenous History, Indigenous Perspectives, Indigenous Tourism, Piikani Nation | Brocket – Alberta, Tourism, Travis Plaited Hair – Kainai Nation | Blood Tribe, Troy Knowlton – Piikani Nation | Brocket, UNESCO World Heritage Sites

A person in traditional Indigenous clothing holds a fan made of feathers against a blue sky. Text reads "Alberta News.

First Nations chiefs from Treaties 6, 7 and 8 unite against Alberta Bill 54

Written on May 8, 2025. Posted in Civic & Government.

First Nations chiefs say no to Bill 54

Chiefs from all three treaty territories in Alberta have united their voices in opposition to Alberta Bill 54.

After an emergency meeting last week to discuss the bill, which would make it easier for a referendum on Alberta sovereignty to take place, chiefs from several different nations spoke their concerns at a press conference.

Chief Jake Whiskeyjack of the Saddle Lake Cree Nation, located on Treaty 6 territory, said the meeting was to unify the voices of the Indigenous people of treaties 6, 7 and 8 to send a clear message to the premier.

“We had this emergency meeting because we needed to call upon our fellow Indian people … to make that statement loud and clear for Danielle Smith to hear us that we were here first and we’re not going anywhere.”

Chief Troy Knowlton of the Piikani Nation, located on Treaty 7, said the talk about separation is “insanity.”

“There is no pathway to separation,” said Knowlton. “You can have all of the referendums you want, but there is no way. And for the province to not engage with First Nations, if you’re going to make statements like that, really shows the respect they have for the original inhabitants of this land.”

He added that due to Bill 54, the treaties have become more unified than ever, which was echoed by Chief Billy-Joe Tuccaro of Mikisew Cree First Nation, located on Treaty 8.

“We thank you for bringing us together as treaty people to stand and oppose this,” said Tuccaro.

Tuccaro was critical of Smith’s demands to Prime Minister Mark Carney, especially with the tight timeline of 2026.

“You talk about a reset with Canada. You must first reset with the Indigenous peoples from Turtle Island.”

After the initial speeches from leaders of each treaty, many other chiefs stood up and spoke out against the bill and potential separation.

Chief Kelsey Jacko of the Cold Lake First Nations said there should be no reason his people should be struggling as much as they are.

“There’s no reason our people should be homeless. Our people are suffering with addictions, our people are being overlooked and it’s about time we have a seat at the table.”

Chief Wilfred Hooka-Nooza of the Dene Tha’ First Nation pleaded with Smith to stop developments on their territory that he said are destroying their traditional way of life.

“There are developments that are happening in our traditional territory, the ongoing clearing of trees, farmland, and that’s impacting our way of life included in Section 35: our hunting, fishing and travelling rights.”

A similar message followed from Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, who asked that all new developments on treaty land be stopped immediately. He suggested the premier and prime minister develop a water energy plan, but ensure Indigenous people are a part of those discussions.

When asked how confident they were that treaty rights would be respected by the premier if a referendum should take place, Tuccaro said he was “not very confident.”

“We have been defending that treaty since the day after it’s been signed, so, from the discussion we had today, enough is enough,” said Tuccaro.

“Treaty people are rising up and we will not take any more of the forked tongue that we’ve been lied to for the last 126 years.”

On April 14, Bill 209, the Reconciliation Implementation Act, was tabled, with all members of the UCP caucus voting against it, including Rick Wilson, minister of Indigenous relations.

Wilson spoke with Knowlton last week and Knowlton called him out for voting against the bill.

“I said, ‘You come to my community, you sit across the table, you shed tears at almost every meeting, you smoke the pipe with us, and when it comes to voting for something that’s going to benefit the First Nations, you vote against it.’ ”

Knowlton added that Wilson told him that, because the bill was proposed by the Opposition, he had to vote against it, to which Knowlton responded by pointing out that he could have abstained from the vote.

The chiefs were scheduled to hold a meeting with the premier last week but chose to cancel it.

“The meeting has had to cancel until she changes her tone,” said Jacko. “Maybe in the future we’ll meet, if she’s meaningful, but she has to respect us. With how she’s talking right now, I don’t see it.”

Strong journalism matters to Canadian communities

This article was written by a reporter supported through the Local Journalism Initiative and edited by the writer’s host newsroom. The Local Journalism Initiative is a federally funded program that supports original public-interest journalism in smaller or underserved communities across Canada. Content produced through the initiative is editorially independent and does not necessarily reflect the views of Shootin’ the Breeze.

Stories like this are shared to keep readers informed and connected — and to reflect real Canadian life.

Alberta | AB, Alberta First Nations, Alberta Independence | Separation, Allan Adam – Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation – Alberta, Billy-Joe Tuccaro – Mikisew Cree First Nation, Cold Lake First Nations – Alberta, Cultural Perspectives, Dene Tha' First Nation – Alberta, Indigenous Perspectives, Indigenous Treaty Rights, Jake Whiskeyjack – Saddle Lake Cree Nation, Kelsey Jacko – Cold Lake First Nations, Lethbridge Herald – Alberta, Mikesew Cree First Nation, Mikesew Cree First Nation – Alberta, Piikani Nation | Brocket – Alberta, Reconciliation Implementation Act | Bill 209, Rick Wilson – Government of Alberta, Saddle Lake Cree Nation – Alberta, Treaty 6 – Alberta, Treaty 7 – Alberta, Troy Knowlton – Piikani Nation | Brocket, Wilfred Hooka-Nooza – Dene Tha' First Nation

Three stick figures stand together; one has a speech bubble with a checkmark, another has a speech bubble with an "X," and the middle figure has no speech bubble.

Local leaders respond to Alberta’s new coal policy

Written on January 15, 2025. Posted in Uncategorized.

The Alberta government’s newly announced Coal Industry Modernization Initiative has intensified the debate over coal mining in the province, particularly in southwestern Alberta, where concerns about environmental impacts and economic opportunities are deeply intertwined.

The CIMI was unveiled Dec. 20 by Energy and Minerals Minister Brian Jean and Environment and Protected Areas Minister Rebecca Schulz. It was presented as a framework for balancing metallurgical coal development with environmental protection.

The policy is said to prioritize water protection and will include a focus on royalty rates, coal mining standards and regulatory certainty for investors.

Jean emphasized that no new open-pit coal mines will be allowed in the foothills and mountaintop-removal mining is off the table, while Shulz noted the importance of relying on science.

Shootin’ the Breeze connected with several local leaders for feedback.

We can capitalize on clean coal

Crowsnest Pass Mayor Blair Painter welcomed the policy, expressing optimism about its potential economic benefits.

“I’m glad that the province has made a decision and that they are supporting clean coal policy in Alberta,” he said. “We do have a lot of good quality metallurgical coal that we can export and capitalize on.”

Painter also defended the exemption of Grassy Mountain, describing it as an advanced project on Category 4 land.

“It’s not a pristine mountaintop, like some of the folks like to let everybody believe,” he said.

Reserving judgment until viability determined

In a Dec. 23 press release, Piikani Nation Chief Troy Knowlton expressed caution about the policy, referring to it as “the so-called Alberta Coal Industry Modernization Initiative.”

“It seems that the Government of Alberta is tacitly giving the nod to the proposed Grassy Mountain mine,” Knowlton said.

He highlighted the lasting effects of past projects, such as the Oldman River Dam, which he said continues to harm water, fish, and habitat.

“We continue to live with the legacy of the previous mine at the Grassy Mountain site — a legacy of damage and dust for a project that did not create jobs or prosperity for Piikani,” Knowlton said.

The chief reaffirmed that Piikani Nation supports Northback Holdings’ application for viability testing but would not take a stance on the project until results are available.

“This is our home. We treasure it. We will defend it,” he said.

Our concern is water

Rick Lemire, reeve of the MD of Pincher Creek, echoed sentiments about water protection as the critical issue. He stressed the need to safeguard the Oldman River from contamination, particularly in light of last year’s drought.

Lemire expressed skepticism about the government’s assurances of scientific safeguards to protect the water, noting limited success with selenium cleanup in British Columbia and Montana.

“There still isn’t anything on paper yet to tell how they’re going to do that,” he said. “I don’t know what technologies they’re going to use for this.”

He also questioned the decision to exempt Grassy Mountain from the new policy.

“Both levels of government, at one time, did reject it, and now they’ve changed their mind. That’s something people are upset about,” Lemire said.

It will put the region at risk

Chris Spearman, former mayor of Lethbridge and a resident of the MD of Pincher Creek, described the policy announcement as rushed and misleading, particularly regarding its exemption of the Grassy Mountain project.

“The truth came out that this new policy would not apply to Grassy Mountain, and so that is our big concern in this area — the high risk of contamination of the Oldman River Basin,” he said.

Spearman emphasized the importance of the Oldman River, which supports one of Canada’s largest agrifood sectors.

“We have a multibillion-dollar economy, that has grown up over 70 years, that will be put at risk due to the coal mining at Grassy Mountain,” he said, referencing concerns about selenium contamination.

“Energy Minister Brian Jean stated that contractual relationships exist and have to be honoured. Are these contractual relationships between the Government of Alberta (taxpayers) and Northback Holdings?” he asked.

“What are the contractual relationships that Albertans are not being informed about, and why did the government enter into them before consulting Albertans?”

“Where are these contracts? Where are these studies that the ministers report to? Where is the technology? Why isn’t the company telling us what technology they’re going to use to make sure that the Oldman River system is not contaminated with selenium and other mining byproducts?” he asked, criticizing claims about technological solutions for mitigating selenium contamination.

Let the process work itself out

Pincher Creek Mayor Don Anderberg emphasized that town council is taking a neutral stance on the new policy, noting that coal mining decisions fall under provincial jurisdiction.

“We had a bit of a discussion at council about the whole coal situation,” Anderberg said. “That discussion is really out of our jurisdiction. The province has made a decision around how they want to move forward.”

Anderberg noted that while a previous council supported a local coal mining project, the current council has not revisited the issue and has adopted a more hands-off approach.

He further explained that the council has not consulted the people of Pincher Creek on the matter, as was done in the past, and is therefore not in a position to take a definitive stance.

“Let the process work itself out,” he said.

The mayor expressed interest in reviewing the policy’s details but deferred judgment until more information is available.

“Any new coal development in the Eastern Slopes would be, to my understanding, underground mining, not strip mining,” Anderberg added. “It’s been a long time, and there’s been a lot of things done. Our council’s perspective is to just see where it goes.”

A region divided

As Alberta moves forward with its new coal policy, Albertans remain divided. While some see economic opportunities in metallurgical coal development, others fear the environmental risks and potential harm to vital water resources.

The Alberta Energy Regulator is conducting hearings on the Grassy Mountain project this week in Calgary. Transcripts and further details are available on the AER website.

AER Hearings, Alberta | AB, Alberta Energy Regulator, alberta news, Brian Jean, Chris Spearman – Pincher Creek | Lethbridge, Coal Mining, Coal Policy, Crowsnest Pass – Alberta, Crowsnest Pass Events and Entertainment, Crowsnest Pass News, Crowsnest Pass Newspaper, Environment, Events and Entertainment, Pincher Creek Events and Entertainment, Pincher Creek News, Pincher Creek Newspaper, Rebecca Schulz – Government of Alberta, Resource Development, Troy Knowlton

Three Piikani Nation members lost to apparent drug overdoses

Written on January 4, 2024. Posted in Uncategorized.

RCMP on the Piikani Nation are looking into the deaths of three women, between the ages of 30 and 60, believed to have died from fentanyl overdoses.

Few details have been released but Alberta RCMP public information officer Troy Savinkoff confirmed to Shootin’ the Breeze that the women were found deceased in separate instances on Dec. 25, 27 and 29.

While the deaths show signs of drug overdose, Savinkoff added, the final determination will be made by the medical examiner assigned to the case.

Piikani RCMP issued a warning Dec. 27, shared by Piikani Tsi Nii Ka Sin, of a “bad batch of drugs” in circulation in the area after the second death, adding that narcan administration did not appear to be successful.

On Tuesday, Chief Troy Knowlton and Piikani Nation council enacted a state of emergency for the community. Under the Federal Emergencies Act, Knowlton said it will allow measures to prevent drug use, improve emergency treatment and provide additional resources to agencies dealing with both drug abuse and its side effects.

The chief opened a Jan. 3 statement by saying, “The situation affecting our nation is not unique to us. Drugs, especially opioids and fentanyl, may prove to be the public policy challenge of the century, affecting every community from coast to coast. However, in a tight-knit community like ours, the impacts of drugs, especially addiction and, tragically, death, particularly among our youth, reverberate pain throughout our entire nation.”

Acknowledging that Piikani Nation is facing a long-term and complicated issue, the chief and council plan to take action by working with local RCMP to crack down on gangs and drug traffickers with augmented law-enforcement measures to tackle the source of the problem.

“It is my goal, and the goal of my council, to bring an end to or at least significantly reduce the availability of drugs,” Knowlton said, “and to prevent deaths among those who have had their lives ensnared by drugs.”

His words come just days after a Dec. 27 Alberta RCMP report stated that officers responded to over 100 per cent more drug overdoses provincewide from January to November 2023 than in all of 2022 — with fentanyl at the centre of most of the fatalities.

The RCMP statistics also revealed a nearly 25 per cent climb in naloxone deployments by its members in 2023 compared to the year prior.

An even more alarming figure: 1,262 opioid-related deaths occurred in Alberta from January to August of last year, 255 higher than in the same period of 2022.

Alberta | AB, drug overdose, Emergency Alerts, Fentanyl, Opioid Crisis, Stories, Troy Knowlton

Every Child Matters billboard unveiled by Piikani Child and Family Services

Written on October 6, 2023. Posted in Uncategorized.

To coincide with this year’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Piikani Child and Family Services unveiled a new billboard proclaiming a powerful message: EVERY CHILD MATTERS.

Located near the Piikani Travel Centre along Highway 3, the billboard was officially revealed during a touching event last Friday.

The new sign is dedicated to all Piikani Nation members who were impacted by residential schools, and reaffirms the message to every child in the community that they matter.

“When the 94 Calls to Action came out, it was really evident that Piikani needed to have some sort of acknowledgement, a way to let everyone know that we are part of Blackfoot territory and we were affected by residential schools,” says Mary Plain Eagle, child intervention manager with PCFS.

Mary is a third-generation survivor of residential schools, as she, along with her parents and grandparents, experienced the hardships many Indigenous people know all too well.

The unfortunate reality is that Mary is not an outlier. Many members of the Piikani Nation are multi-generational survivors of institutions where children were stripped of their freedoms, their cultures and their identities.

Many who endured residential school life were present for the unveiling, which featured heartfelt speeches from elders Peter Strikes With A Gun and Herman Many Guns, Piikani Nation Chief Troy Knowlton and the executive director of PCFS, Kelly Provost.

They spoke to the horrors of residential schools, of colonization, but also of the need to heal and rise above these hardships.

“This sign not only symbolizes our healing process, but it also signifies our ability to move forward with our loyalty to our way of life,” Mary says.

According to her, this initiative was first proposed to former Piikani chief Stan Grier and council, all of whom were on board with the idea.

Earlier this year, Grier was replaced by Chief Knowlton, and so the initiative was brought forth once more to the new chief and council, who were absolutely for it, as well.

“I just feel like it’s been a long time coming,” Mary says.

“Thirty years ago, you would never have heard this sort of acknowledgement for children that were in residential school, and now as time goes on, we’re starting to hear more about it and are acknowledging what happened.”

Following the event, spectators gathered at a teepee set up outside the Piikani Travel Centre, where folks received complimentary merchandise and a free lunch.

On behalf of the PCFS, Mary extends gratitude to the North Stone drum group, Wade Plain Eagle and crew for the sign structure, Little Miss Piikani Alyson Red Young Man, the PCFS staff and everyone else who made this possible.