A First Nation in Alberta has said that a separatist push for the province to secede from Canada is “consummately irresponsible and dishonourable” and should be shut down, arguing in court that a proposed referendum would violate their treaty rights. The Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation. Near Edmonton. Is challenging the effort to hold a referendum on independence, saying the campaign undermines key provisions of a historic treaty signed in 1899.

Separatist Movement Gains Momentum

A minority of residents in Alberta. An oil-rich province. Have long argued that the province’s economic challenges are linked to the structure of payments to the federal government and a perceived inability to access their vast fossil fuel reserves. In recent months, separatists have capitalized on these sentiments, collecting nearly 180,000 signatures to request a referendum on independence.

The group behind the push, Stay Free Alberta, says it has received the required number of signatures, a month before the cutoff date. They hope their question – “Do you agree that the Province of Alberta should cease to be part of Canada and become an independent state?” – will be added to a planned referendum in October, which will also include questions on immigration, healthcare, and the country’s constitution.

Legal Challenge to the Referendum

The Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation has asked a court to halt the campaign, arguing that the proposed referendum violates the terms of Treaty No. 8, which was signed in 1899 by 39 First Nations, including Sturgeon Lake. The First Nation claims that Alberta, the federal government, and the province’s chief electoral officer have failed to uphold key provisions of that agreement.

“Alberta has treated [Sturgeon Lake Cree First Nation] as though they are chattel on the land, merely an afterthought in forced negotiations, not the first step in any potential secession,” the First Nation said in its court filing. “Alberta has no right to secede from Canada and no right to take Treaty No. 8 territory.”

The First Nation is asking a court to reinstate the rule that a citizen-initiative petition must follow the constitution – and to halt the current drive for signatures. “In 2026, Alberta’s actions are not only illegal, but they are also consummately irresponsible and dishonourable,” the filing stated.

Concerns Over Foreign Interference

The First Nation has also warned the current push has invited the threat of influence from foreign actors. A vote to leave Canada, they argue, “will enable foreign interference from the most powerful nation to the south.”

Late last year, separatist activists held covert meetings with members of Donald Trump’s administration – a move one provincial premier called “treason.” The judge overseeing the case is expected to deliver a ruling on 2 May – the deadline for signature collection.

The hearing, which began on Tuesday, is expected to last three days. Last year, Alberta’s premier, Danielle Smith, reduced the number of signatures required for citizens to bring a constitutional referendum, dropping it from 588,000 to roughly 178,000. The provincial government also changed how citizen-initiated referendums worked, removing powers from Alberta’s chief electoral officer. Now, referendums can pose questions that would run afoul of the Canadian constitution.

The Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation has said that the proposed referendum is not only a violation of their treaty rights but also a dangerous precedent that could lead to the erosion of Canada’s constitutional framework. They are urging the court to stop the campaign before it can proceed to the next stage.

As the court weighs its decision, the outcome could have significant implications for the future of Alberta and its relationship with the federal government. The legal battle has drawn attention from across Canada, with many questioning whether the push for secession is legal, constitutional, or even in the best interest of Albertans.