Piikani Nation Chief Troy Knowlton says Treaty rights must be respected in any discussion about the potential separation of Alberta from Canada. (Photo: Troy Knowlton)

By David Opinko

Alberta separation requires consent of First Nations, says Piikani Chief

May 1, 2025 | 11:34 AM

A local First Nation leader says separating Alberta from Canada would prove to be difficult.

Piikani First Nation Chief Troy Knowlton acknowledges that, in the wake of the 2025 federal election, regional tensions in Alberta have been exacerbated.

Despite Canadians electing a Liberal minority government, almost every riding in Alberta is set to go to the Conservatives.

READ MORE: 2025 Federal Election coverage

He believes that Premier Danielle Smith is trying to set the table for Alberta to legally exit the country.

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Back in March, Smith says she would create a “What’s Next” panel after the election where she could see “how people are feeling and see if there are any other referendum issues they want us to put on the table.” Knowlton implies that she is referring to a referendum regarding separation.

The premier also recently said that there could be an “unprecedented national unity crisis” in Canada if Prime Minister Mark Carney did not meet her demands within six months of a potential re-election.

READ MORE: Alberta Premier makes demands during first meeting with PM Carney

On April 30, Smith’s government announced changes to the Election Statutes Amendment Act, which includes lowering the threshold for the number of signatures required on a petition to put an issue to a province-wide referendum.

Knowlton said in his statement that separatist organizers could reach the new requirement for signatures.

Regardless of these issues, Knowlton says that Treaty rights must be respected and that proceeding down a path towards separation cannot be undertaken without the consent of Alberta’s First Nations.

“It is at this point that First Nations in Alberta, representing Treaties 6, 7 and 8, must remind Albertans and their leaders that the aforementioned Treaties predate Alberta. Those are Treaties with the Crown, and Alberta lacks the authority to interfere with or negate those Treaties,” says Knowlton.

The Chief says he will “aggressively protect” Treaty rights and the inherent rights of Indigenous peoples, and require that the Crown’s obligations to First Nations be honoured and fulfilled.

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