The Saddle Lake Cree Nation, located 100 miles northeast of Edmonton, is taking a bold stand against Alberta’s gender-affirming care ban. By invoking the medicine chest clause from Treaty 6, signed in 1876, the nation aims to provide a safe haven for trans youth seeking critical healthcare services.
In December 2024, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and the United Conservative Party passed a law prohibiting medical providers from prescribing gender-affirming care, such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy, to trans youth under 16. This controversial legislation has sparked widespread backlash from LGBTQ+ groups and human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, Skipping Stone Foundation, and Egale Canada.
Saddle Lake Cree Nation’s Defiant Stance
On September 9, 2026, during a public gathering celebrating the 150-year anniversary of Treaty 6, leaders of the Saddle Lake Cree Nation announced their plans to defy the provincial ban. Chief Dale Steinhauer emphasized the nation’s commitment to protecting the rights of their trans and gender-nonconforming youth.
No longer will our children and families have their rights taken away Steinhauer declared. When one group’s rights are removed, we are all affected.
The Saddle Lake Cree Nation plans to recruit doctors to provide gender-affirming care services on its land reserve, ensuring that youth within its borders and in surrounding provinces can legally and safely access the care they need.
The Medicine Chest Clause and Treaty Rights
The medicine chest clause in Treaty 6 is widely interpreted by Indigenous communities as a commitment to provide comprehensive healthcare. The Saddle Lake Cree Nation argues that this clause includes gender-affirming care, which they view as a fundamental right protected under their treaty.
Dr. James Makokis, a Two-Spirit family physician and member of the Saddle Lake Cree Nation, highlighted the importance of standing up for trans and Two-Spirit youth. It’s really important for us as individual clinicians, as individual physicians, as citizens of this democratic country known as Canada, for people to stand up Makokis said.
He acknowledged the risks involved, stating that standing up for these rights might mean risking his medical licence. Despite these challenges, Makokis and other healthcare providers are determined to provide the necessary care for trans youth.
Provincial Response and Legal Implications
Premier Danielle Smith’s government has defended the ban, arguing that it aims to preserve the fertility of young people. However, this claim is contradicted by longstanding scientific research demonstrating that puberty blockers do not render a person infertile and that gender-affirming care saves lives.
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta has stated that it will continue to support regulated members in understanding their professional responsibilities within the bounds of applicable legislation, including laws that apply to the treaty rights of First Nations.
Smith expressed curiosity about the Saddle Lake Cree Nation’s ability to attract doctors to provide gender-affirming care, stating, They are an independent nation, so I’ll be interested to see if they’re able to attract a doctor to do that.
The Saddle Lake Cree Nation’s defiant stance is part of a broader legacy of Indigenous people standing up to colonial powers that have historically criminalized and attempted to eradicate gender variant people. The use of a First Nations sovereignty to combat anti-trans laws is a historic and significant move.
As the nation continues to protect trans youth within its borders, it sends a powerful message to the provincial government and beyond. All children, including trans and Two-Spirit children and their family, will have safety under our treaty Steinhauer affirmed.
