Alberta Separation? It’s Treaty territory first
First Nations Chiefs Slam Premier Smith Over Separation Talk, Demand She Cease and Desist Amid Treaty Rights Clash
Hey guys, if you’re following the wild ride in Alberta politics, you know things are boiling over as of January 2026. Indigenous chiefs are straight-up railing against Premier Danielle Smith’s role in fanning separation flames, especially with those sketchy U.S. alliances in the mix. While she’s not outright calling for a split, her tweaks to referendum laws, like Bill 54 in 2025 and Bill 14 in December, have made it easier for separatists to push a 2026 vote on ditching Canada. Chiefs say this tramples Aboriginal rights big time, and they’re not mincing words in their latest statements. With Trump-era tariffs hitting Canadian exports, some see Smith’s MAGA-friendly chats as cozying up to U.S. interests, but she just swatted down any U.S. statehood talk, insisting Albertans want a “strong and sovereign” province inside Canada.
Main point? Aboriginal rights would take a massive hit in any separation scenario. Alberta’s on Treaty 6, 7, and 8 lands — pacts signed with the Crown back in the 1870s, way before the province popped up in 1905. These treaties promise shared land but lock in First Nations’ sovereignty, resource rights, and self-governance. Chiefs argue a breakup would shred these sacred agreements, leaving Indigenous communities without federal protections or revenue shares from resources like oil. Imagine corporations drilling unchecked on Treaty lands, or Nations losing billions in transfers: no consent means no deal. A December 2025 court ruling even declared a proposed separation referendum unconstitutional because it didn’t safeguard Aboriginal rights in an “independent” Alberta. Smith’s government rushed Bill 14 to dodge that, basically flipping off the courts and Indigenous input. As one advocate puts it, separation would plunge Indigenous economies into chaos and erase hard-won rights.
Current chiefs’ statements are firing on all cylinders. On January 8, 2026, leaders from Treaty 6, 7, and 8 united in support of Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation Chief Sheldon Sunshine’s lawsuit for an “urgent” injunction against the Alberta Prosperity Project’s (APP) separation petition. They slammed Bill 14 for overturning a pro-Indigenous court win, calling it undemocratic. “We will not tolerate any action that seeks to undermine our Treaties, our Rights or our Sovereignty,” their joint statement thundered. Confederacy of Treaty Six Grand Chief Greg Desjarlais told Smith face-to-face: “Alberta separation will never happen, and would be a breach of the Crown.” Tsuut’ina Nation and Blackfoot Confederacy echoed the vibe, backing the legal fight to halt any referendum. Earlier, in May 2025, chiefs like Mikisew Cree’s Billy-Joe Tuccaro and Piikani’s Troy Knowlton had issued cease-and-desist letters, warning Smith has “no right” to stir this pot without consent.
Smith’s alliances add spice, her APP ties (they bash UNDRIP as “Marxist”) scream disregard for Indigenous frameworks, even as she rejects U.S. annexation. But with lawsuits flying and chiefs vowing to protect sovereignty, this could force a reckoning. Indigenous advocates say it’s not just about borders; it’s survival. If separation talk persists amid U.S. trade wars, expect more court battles and maybe louder demands for Smith to step back. Alberta’s future? It’s Treaty territory first.
