I’ve been trying to wrap my head around the sovereignty movement in Alberta, and I think I’ve finally figured out the perfect analogy. Imagine a massive, historic heritage house…
The Owner: The house is actually owned by Indigenous Nations. They hold the original deed and have a long-term agreement (the Treaties) with the main tenant. In the legal world, this is known as “underlying title.”
The Main Tenant: That’s Canada. Canada holds the lease for the whole property and manages the utilities, the roof, and the shared hallways for everyone.
The Subletter: Alberta is a roommate subletting the ground floor.
The Drama
The folks on the ground floor have been doing some serious gardening in the backyard. They’ve grown a massive crop of veggies (oil) and have made a lot of money selling them. Everyone agrees those are their veggies to sell—that’s actually written into the rental agreement!
The Twist: Lately, a vocal group on the ground floor has decided that because they grew the best pumpkins, they now own the dirt, the foundation, and the property lines. They’re standing on the lawn with a literal saw, trying to cut the ground floor away from the rest of the house.
The Reality Check
- You can’t take the land: You’re in a ground-floor apartment. There are people living in the basement and on the 2nd and 3rd floors. You can’t saw the house in half and walk away with the lobby without the whole structure collapsing.
- The Lease is complicated: You aren’t just renting from yourself; you’re part of a shared lease with the other provinces. If you try to change the locks, the Main Tenant (Canada) and the actual Owner (Indigenous Nations) have some very expensive lawyers who will remind you about the security deposit.
- The Separate Company Myth: Thinking you can just vote your way out and take the property with you is like thinking you can stop paying rent but keep the room because you painted the walls blue.
The Moral
Enjoy the gardening, keep selling the veggies, but remember: you’re still part of the house. If the house falls, the ground floor goes with it.
