The Saddle Lake Cree Nation in Alberta announced it will defy a provincial law restricting access to gender-affirming care for transgender youth, citing treaty rights as justification. The nation plans to create a safe haven on its reserved lands where Canadian-trained physicians can provide this care without restriction, despite the province's ban on prescribing puberty blockers and hormone therapies for those under 16. Indigenous leaders describe the legislation as "anti-trans" and a violation of their treaty obligations, while Alberta's government claims the laws preserve children's choices. The Saddle Lake Cree Nation is seeking to welcome physicians to provide gender-affirming care without licensing barriers, amidst ongoing legal challenges against the province's restrictive laws.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-11,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Saddle Lake Cree Nation, a First Nation in Alberta, has announced plans to defy a provincial law that restricts access to gender-affirming care for transgender youth. The law, which was passed by the Alberta government, bans healthcare providers from providing certain treatments to minors who identify as transgender. However, the Saddle Lake Cree Nation argues that this care is protected under their treaty rights, citing the "medicine chest" clause of Treaty No. 6, which they believe obligates the federal government to provide ongoing health care to Indigenous peoples. The First Nation's leader, Dr. James Makokis, has described the law as "anti-trans" and a "profound violation of the treaty". He believes that denying care to transgender youth increases their mental health risks, and that the nation will continue to provide access to this care despite the provincial ban.
Written for “Alberta Gender Care Controversy” on 2026-09-12,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it +0.85, but none of the 1 quote(s) it offered could be found in the article text, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 7719: no verified evidence · logged 2026-09-11
A First Nation in Alberta says it will defy a provincial law that restricts access to gender-affirming care for transgender youth, arguing these health services are protected under treaty rights.
asserted
services → say → rights
The Saddle Lake Cree Nation, roughly 180 kilometres northeast of Edmonton, announced during a news conference on Wednesday that it is asserting its jurisdiction to provide Albertans access to gender-affirming treatment that is currently banned by the province.
asserted
that → announce → province
The First Nation cited the “medicine chest” clause of Treaty No. 6, which states that “a medicine chest shall be kept at the house of each Indian Agent for the use and benefit of the Indians at the direction of such agent.”
asserted
chest → cite → agent
Indigenous leaders interpret this as a legal obligation for the federal government to provide health care on a continuing basis.
asserted
government → interpret → basis
James Makokis, a Nehiyô (Plains Cree) two-spirit family physician from Saddle Lake, said the violence and harms faced by two-spirit and transgender people has to stop, stressing that the denial of care significantly increases mental-health risks.
asserted
denial → say → risks
He described Alberta’s legislation as “anti-trans” and said it is a profound violation of the treaty.
“The Saddle Lake Cree Nation categorically rejects these attacks on all gender diverse peoples, including Tastawiyiniwak – our two-spirit relatives – ensuring that life-affirming health care remains accessible, safe and protected from external political interference,” Dr. Makokis said in a subsequent statement.
asserted
Makokis → describe → statement
Alberta’s trio of laws regarding transgender and gender-diverse youth are the most restrictive of any province in Canada.
asserted
trio → regard → Canada
The legislation bans participation in certain sports divisions and regulates pronouns in schools, in addition to limiting gender-affirming care.
asserted
legislation → ban → care
Last November, Alberta invoked the notwithstanding clause to shield the bills from being overturned by legal action.
asserted
Alberta → invoke → action
The clause – historically viewed to be a last resort – allows governments to override certain sections of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms for up to five years.
asserted
governments → view → years
Under the law restricting gender-affirming care, doctors are prohibited from prescribing puberty blockers and hormone therapies for those under 16.
asserted
doctors → restrict → 16
Additionally, physicians are banned from performing gender-reassignment surgeries on minors (those under 18), which was already a rare occurrence in the province.
asserted
which → ban → province
Saddle Lake said the three laws are an “assault on gender diverse people” and that it will establish a safe haven for gender-affirming care on reserved lands.
asserted
it → say → lands
The nation said it will create a new health law, welcome Canadian-trained physicians to practise and work with health regulators to ensure there are no licensing barriers for these clinicians.
asserted
physicians → say → clinicians
Heather Jenkins, press secretary to Alberta Justice Minister Mickey Amery, did not directly address the First Nation’s plans to offer gender-affirming care.
asserted
Jenkins → address → care
She said the laws “preserve the choices of children and youth,” strengthen the role of parents and “ensure fairness and safety” in amateur sports.
asserted
laws → say → sports
“Alberta’s United Conservative government will be unapologetic in our commitment to these principles,” said Ms. Jenkins.
asserted
Jenkins → say → principles
The Tastawiyiniwak, which roughly translates to the “in-between” people, also known as two-spirit, have always been recognized and included by the Cree people.
asserted
which → translate → people
Saddle Lake said it must protect these individuals against “continued assault” as a growing number of jurisdictions implement policies that limit care for gender-diverse people.
asserted
that → say → people
One read: “As long as the sun shines, the grass grows and the river flows, tastawiyiniwak will exist.”
asserted
tastawiyiniwak → read → ?
Chief Dale Steinhauer of the Saddle Lake Cree Nation said Alberta’s law is “dehumanizing” and the nation will not stand by as basic human rights and vital health care services are denied.
asserted
rights → say → Nation
“Have the colonial governments not learned enough from their own history?
asserted
governments → learn → history
Today, Saddle Lake Cree Nation reminds them again to stay in their boat,” said Ms. Steinhauer.
asserted
Steinhauer → remind → boat
“When we were being stolen from our parents and experienced genocide in Indian Residential Schools, we wondered ‘Who are the people that will help us?’
asserted
that → steal → us
Today we offer our help, support and jurisdiction to override these dehumanizing laws,” she said in a subsequent statement.
asserted
she → offer → statement
Representatives from the Canadian Medical Association and the Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada, who joined the news conference, voiced their support for Saddle Lake.
asserted
who → join → Lake
