CALGARY—Alberta’s first Indigenous female political party leader wants to change the way Albertans talk about pipelines and consult with Indigenous communities.

The Green Party of Alberta selected its new leader, Cheryle Chagnon-Greyeyes, on Saturday, and she hopes to use her platform to spark “people-oriented” and “environment-oriented” discussions across the province.

Chagnon-Greyeyes’ areas of focus include improving the first-past-the-post voting system, encouraging young Albertans to vote, and changing the nature of consultation with Indigenous communities when it comes to resource extraction.

According to Chagnon-Greyeyes, who has worked at the University of Calgary for about 13 years, the party supports Indigenous peoples more than any other political party in the province.

“The six guiding principles of the Green Party align quite nicely with the seven sacred teachings of the Cree,” said Chagnon-Greyeyes, who is Cree.

The environmental and Indigenous activist said she’s excited to lead the party in the next election.

Although Chagnon-Greyeyes voiced opposition to the Trans Mountain pipeline, she said she’s not against oil and gas.

“I’m against rushing forward headlong without consideration for consequences,” Chagnon-Greyeyes said.

“I drive a car, I use plastic. I’m not adverse to using oil products,” she said. “I know the Green Party is asking for a moratorium on the oilsands, however, I think it’s more of ‘let’s slow down and do this the right way.’”

For Chagnon-Greyeyes, “the right way” includes moving away from pipelines and engaging in meaningful consultation.

“Why are we rushing into building these dangerous pipelines? … We’ve got to look at other options,” Chagnon-Greyeyes said. “They’ve developed new technologies right here at the University of Calgary. They have bitumen pellets, which float on water and are noncombustible.”

When it comes to consultation, Chagnon-Greyeyes wants governments to avoid strictly dealing with Indigenous bands and councils.

“That’s a very colonial way of looking at things,” she said. “We need to deal with communities — and that includes elders and all members of the communities, not just those who have been thrust into power or elected into power.”

More than anything, Chagnon-Greyeyes wants to empower diverse Albertans.

She said the party has about 50 vacant constituencies across the province, so she’s looking for candidates to run in the 2019 provincial election.

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“I’m looking for people who don’t usually see themselves in politics. I’m talking women, Indigenous peoples, LGBTQ people, immigrants, minorities,” Chagnon-Greyeyes said.

“I want people who don’t think they have power to realize you can have power.”

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