Indigenous leaders warn that Alberta separation would violate treaty rights
- On May 6, 2025, First Nations leaders held an emergency meeting in Edmonton to oppose Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's push for a provincial separation referendum.
- The meeting followed Smith's government lowering the signature requirement to 177,000 and extending the collection period to 120 days for a 2026 referendum on Alberta independence.
- Indigenous leaders warned that separation would violate treaty rights established under Treaties 6, 7, and 8, which remain internationally binding and predate Alberta's existence.
- Piikani Nation Chief Troy Knowlton called separatist talks "insanity" and said, "We're not going anywhere," while constitutional experts said First Nations cannot veto the referendum but would be key in negotiations.
- The controversy has united Indigenous communities across Canada, signaling potential legal and political challenges to Alberta's separatist movement and highlighting calls for respect of treaty rights.
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17 Articles
EXCLUSIVE: Legal experts agree First Nations can’t block Alberta separation
Source: FacebookDespite loud opposition from First Nations leaders and the Alberta NDP, legal experts say Indigenous communities would not have the power to veto an Alberta independence referendum—even if treaties remain intact.Canadian Constitution Foundation legal counsel Josh Dehaas told True North that while Alberta cannot unilaterally secede from Canada, First Nations do not possess veto power over a referendum or subsequent negotiations.“T…

First Nations take Alberta premier to task over separatist rhetoric
First Nations leaders say a silver lining to the “rhetoric and insanity” brought about by talks of Alberta separatism has united Indigenous communities “all across Canada, from coast to coast to coast.”
First Nations must be part of Alberta separation debate, says Piikani Nation chief
Piikani Nation Chief Troy Knowlton is voicing firm opposition to recent moves by the Alberta government that critics say are advancing a separatist agenda, warning that any steps toward separation must respect treaty rights and cannot proceed without First Nations’…

'No right talking the way she is': Alberta First Nations chiefs united after emergency meeting denouncing separation talks
Leaders of First Nations across Alberta slammed Premier Danielle Smith for not putting talks of a separation referendum to rest and emphasized their opposition to Bill 54, which would lower the threshold for citizen initiatives.
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