When Alberta separatists advanced efforts to trigger a referendum on Alberta separation from Canada, First Nations were not consulted on the profound impacts this could have on Treaty rights, constitutional obligations, and the future of our Nations.

The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN) could not stand by.

Treaties 6, 7, and 8 cover most of Alberta. These Treaties are sacred, legally binding agreements between First Nations and the Crown, protected by Canada’s Constitution. Alberta separation would raise serious questions about the future of those Treaty relationships, yet First Nations were left out of the process.

Alongside other First Nations, ACFN went to court to stop the separation petition process until the Crown’s duty to consult was respected. The Court agreed that First Nations should have been consulted and quashed the petition process. However, defending Treaty rights came at a significant cost: more than $200,000 in legal fees.

These funds could have supported housing, youth, Elders, education, culture, language, and community wellness. Instead, ACFN was forced to spend them defending rights that should have been respected from the beginning.

We are asking for your support in recovering these extraordinary legal costs.

Your donation will help ACFN continue standing up for Treaty rights, constitutional obligations, and the principle that no government or separatist movement should be able to make decisions about Alberta’s future without First Nations at the table.

Treaties are not optional. First Nations must be consulted. Alberta’s future cannot be decided without us.

Mahsi. Thank you for standing with ACFN.