King expressed 'concern' over Alberta separatists, say First Nations chiefs

King Charles III "expressed his concern" over the Alberta separatist movement while meeting Indigenous leaders at Buckingham Palace, according to a delegation of First Nations chiefs that travelled to London.

“- Published King Charles III "expressed his concern" over the Alberta separatist movement while meeting Indigenous leaders at Buckingham Palace, according to a delegation of First Nations chiefs that travelled to London”

BBC

Grand Chief Joey Pete of the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations said he and other leaders made the King aware of the "threat" the movement represented to agreements signed by First Nations and the Crown more than a century ago.

BBC

He added that the King was "very interested in what we had to say" and had "committed to learning more".

While meeting the King on Wednesday, First Nations chiefs asked him to issue a Royal Proclamation that would affirm their treaties with the Crown and the rights afforded under them, they said.

"It was a significant meeting, as Treaty partners and equals," said Grand Chief Pete in a statement.

BBC

He added that the King had been "very interested in what we had to say and asked a lot of questions".

The BBC has approached Buckingham Palace for comment.

One Alberta First Nation - Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation (SLCN) - has sued the Alberta government for allowing separatists to gather enough signatures in support of a referendum, arguing that the petition violates its treaty rights.

“- Published King Charles III "expressed his concern" over the Alberta separatist movement while meeting Indigenous leaders at Buckingham Palace, according to a delegation of First Nations chiefs that travelled to London”

BBC

"Alberta has treated SLCN as though they are chattel on the land, merely an afterthought in forced negotiations, not the first step in any potential secession," the statement of claim said.

"Alberta's secession cannot happen without First Nation consent to change a party to Treaty No. 8," the lawsuit stated.

Earlier this week, a group of First Nations leaders gathered at the Alberta legislature in Edmonton to call on the provincial premier, Danielle Smith, to quash any possible secession referendum.

They also asked Alberta lawmakers to hold a no-confidence vote in Smith's government over the matter, though an effort to propose one was promptly shut down by members of Smith's party.

The separatist movement, led by a group called the Alberta Prosperity Project, is gathering signatures to force a secession referendum in October and argues the province would be financially better off if it were to form its own sovereign country.

Under Alberta's Referendum Act, organisers must collect 177,732 valid signatures by May for a referendum question to be verified and potentially approved.

BBC

Members of the Alberta Prosperity Project previously told the BBC they believed they will be able to gather more than the needed signatures to force a referendum.

Alberta's Indigenous relations minister, Rajan Sawhney, told reporters on Wednesday that she would like to meet Chief Pete to discuss the alleged treaty violations, but added: "At this point, I don't agree with these allegations."

Chief Pete told CTV News in an interview on Wednesday that he had also told the King about the "hardships" and "division" he believed the separatist movement had caused in Alberta.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to meet Charles on Monday during a trip to the UK.

He told reporters on Thursday that the monarch had engaged in a "fulsome" discussion with the chiefs, adding: "There are many subjects for him and I to raise."