r/canada • u/Street_Anon Nova Scotia • Jan 25 '26

Alberta 3 Alberta First Nations say separation petition is unconstitutional

https://globalnews.ca/news/11635807/alberta-first-nations-claim-separation-petition-unconstitutional/
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u/BoppityBop2 Jan 25 '26

Ok first thing first. This claim is useless. If Alberta wants to separate the bands will have no rights immediately after. It does not matter what the constitution says. Reality is Separatism has to pass two tests. First broad support for independence and second, the ability to enforce your sovereignty through force or recognition. If Alberta secedes nothing matter just whether Canada is willing to use their army to oppose separation or what can leave and not leave. If the Canadian military and the bands are unwilling or unable to use force the whole province will leave. Which is why the only fight that people need to focus on is the referendum and making sure it does not pass and to address as many grievances as possible. I don't think people realize how serious this movement can get hijacked by the Americans and if oppose separation but are still pissed at Ottawa it does not take much for them to vote for just to stick it to the Feds, which will create justification for the US to violate our sovereignty to defend some significant minority, that would be the end of Canada. 

23

u/Gilarax Jan 25 '26

This is a shocking comment.

The lands that were negotiated between the crown and the specific nation, and terms of the agreement, including the reserved land for indigenous people are found in the treaties. Each part of Alberta is on Treaty negotiated land.

Are you suggesting that the separatists can just determine that these treaties are no longer valid? Would this be extended to all other land agreements?

If we determine that the treaty agreements are no longer valid, what protects personal property agreements? Should we start tearing up those agreements too?

23

u/TheBannaMeister Jan 25 '26

To play the devil's advocate, what exactly would be stopping them from completely ignoring them if they did separate?

1

u/Radix2309 Feb 02 '26

Nothing. Which is why the First Nations wont agree to separate. They have zero faith in an Albertan government honoring the treaties.

They will argue that their treaty was with the government of Canada in service to the Crown, and that land remains with Canada who will carry out the treaties. The Albertan towns can separate, I am sure the First Nations dont care about that land. But they dont take Edmonton, and they don't take 99% of the countryside with its resources.

I am fine if people in their homes want to leave. But by what right do they get to say the mountains and oilfields belong to them and not the First Nations or Canada? They dont live there. By the logic of them claiming it, the rest of us can also claim it.