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Treaty 8 First Nations social media (Image Credit: Treaty 8 First Nations social media)
By Tanner Smith
"Alberta can never be sovereign"

Treaty 8 First Nations Chief asking anti-sepertists to be more vocal

Jun 6, 2026 | 9:00 AM

Treaty 8 First Nations Chief Trevor Mecredi has issued an open letter to Premier Danielle Smith on “continued efforts to advance a separation referendum process.”

Chief Mecredi says they are firmly behind staying in Canada, as Treaty 8 predates the province itself and remains in a binding agreement with the Crown.

Mecredi adds that he knows there are a lot of people out there who agree that the province should remain as part of Canada, “and we need them to be more vocal.”

“It’s starting to turn into really a racist issue, because the nations are protecting their rights, and I don’t know what these people expect us to do, just to sit back and allow them to talk about taking our lands that don’t belong to them, the resources and all these things. There is no understanding.”

“We ask that the non-Indigenous people understand treaties and understand how Alberta came to be, and try to understand the issues that we have, so we can move together. The nations are not anti-industry, they’re not anti-pipeline, they’re not looking for handouts, they’re looking for true partnerships, and all this talk about separation and just slowing down every piece of potential progress that there could be here in Alberta.”

In his open letter, Mecredi also took issue with the premier’s “recent statements regarding Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, and the duty to consult.”

Mecredi rejects “any suggestion that Section 35 can be reinterpreted or amended to suit a provincial political agenda.”

“Treaties are fundamental to our province and also the country. They’re foundational agreements, and it seems to be sidestepped and looked upon as if the treaty doesn’t exist, and I think it’s important that the premier understands the importance of the treaty and that we’ll defend it at all costs.”

Treaty 8 being the largest in the country and still being disregarded by the province is “troubling” according to Mecredi, especially as these treaties built Alberta, (and) allowed settlers to come in.

So it’s now their job to make sure “the province knows its place.”

“The separatists have to understand that Alberta does not own these lands. Alberta can never be sovereign.”

Mecredi says Treaty 8’s next steps will be to “respond legally,” so if it does go to court, they will be prepared.

Anyone wanting more information on Chief Mecredi’s open letter to the Premier can visit the Treaty 8 website.

by Tanner Smith