We are committed to working with Indigenous communities and peoples to build a better future for all families in Alberta. We will respect the nation-to-nation relationship as recognized by Treaty, and in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as affirmed in Section 35 of the Constitution of Canada.

The Alberta NDP will ensure that we consult meaningfully with Indigenous peoples, and further our Treaty relationships in reciprocity, and uphold our obligations as Treaty people.

We will respect the rights of all Indigenous people in Alberta and listen to their lived experience and expert knowledge.

An Alberta NDP government led by Rachel Notley will partner with Indigenous nations and communities to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. This work spans from access to health care, new child welfare relationships, language restoration and preservation, education, K-12 curriculum, access to training and jobs, and building equity partnerships in natural resource projects.

• We will work with the federal government to uphold Jordan’s Principle across services and work with nations who are developing or have implemented child welfare legislation.
• We will also work with Indigenous communities to implement the Calls to Justice from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. We will work toward inclusive justice for all missing and murdered Indigenous peoples.
• We will promote economic equity, investment certainty, and job creation for Indigenous peoples, starting with repealing the Sovereignty Act.
• We propose to keep the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation and expand it to include more projects and earlier stage Indigenous-led projects across sectors.We will launch broad consultations with Indigenous communities on expansion of the corporation into a greater number of sectors across the economy.
• We will significantly strengthen the capacity of the AER and ensure that it has a clear legislative mandate to work with, inform, and consult Indigenous communities.

To rebuild from this season’s fires and to support programs to mitigate future fires and disasters, we will work with First Nations and Métis Nations and settlements.

Protecting Alberta's water sources is important to all who live here.

The Alberta NDP will invite Indigenous leaders and communities to co-create an Alberta Water Stewardship Group for the Eastern Slopes. The group could advise on regional planning, water allocation decisions, and improve communication with Indigenous rights holders.

With an initial investment of $5 million, we will support Indigenous environmental monitoring, Guardian programs, and Indigenous co-managed parks to enhance land, water, and biodiversity conservation and stewardship, and will also uphold Indigenous Rights under Section 35 of the Canadian Constitution by removing harmful regulations on hunting, harvesting, fishing, and gathering.

Every student deserves to see themselves in what they learn in school. Indigenous culture and history belong in the Alberta K-12 curriculum and we will ensure that we consult to have them appropriately represented.

We will support language learning and we will work with First Nations to develop K-12 curriculum in 6 of Alberta’s most prominent Indigenous languages - Dene, Nehiyâwewin (Cree), Isga (Nakota Sioux), Niitsitapi (Blackfoot), Tsuu’tina and Michif.

Rachel Notley and the Alberta NDP are committed to culturally appropriate and anti-racist health care. We will build on the work of Dr. Esther Tailfathers and many more to consult and work with communities to establish an Indigenous health fund for nation- and community-led projects such as translators, health navigators, and Indigenous health complaint investigators who come from and have the trust of their communities.

As part of our Lethbridge Family Teaching Clinic, we will consult to establish an Indigenous Centre of Excellence in Primary Care as a model of care and partnering to create jobs, training, and improve health outcomes.

As part of our Affordable Housing Strategy, we will work with Indigenous people to create an Indigenous Housing strategy and ensure provincial funding aligns with work and investment being done through the National Housing Strategy. As a part of this commitment, we will invest $120 million over five years into the Indigenous Housing Capital Program.

We also propose to allocate infrastructure funding to include spaces for ceremony and protocol in public buildings where Indigenous communities identify that this is appropriate.

Community projects like halls, arenas, and powwow grounds, for example, will also be eligible for new funding under our new Hometown Alberta program.