Alberta separatism threats spur First Nation to revive lawsuit against Sovereignty Act

Edzi'u Loverin · CBC News

· Posted: May 15, 2025 6:59 PM EDT | Last Updated: 10 minutes ago

A First Nation whose onshore spans the Alberta-Saskatchewan borderline says Alberta's "growing separatist agenda" has spurred them to revive a much than 2 year-old suit against the province.

The suit was primitively filed with the Court of King's Bench little than 2 weeks aft the Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act was passed in December 2022, but was connected hold until Wednesday, say Onion Lake Cree Nation lawyers.

"Our determination to beforehand our litigation connected the Alberta Sovereignty Act is successful nonstop effect to the ongoing separatist talks happening," said Onion Lake Cree Nation Chief Henry Lewis at a quality league successful Edmonton Thursday.

"Our connection to Premier Smith is that these are pact lands. They are not yours to take, and we're prepared to spell to tribunal to support our constitutionally protected rights nether treaty."

The suit claims the Sovereignty Act undermines and infringes upon Onion Lake Cree Nation's law pact rights, and seeks impermanent and imperishable injunctions that the enactment tin not beryllium held against the First Nation oregon its people.

The First Nation said the instrumentality and respective bills presently successful the legislature fuel Alberta separatism, among them Bill 54 which would marque it easier for citizens to initiate referendums connected issues including separation from Canada.

"Premier Smith's Sovereignty Act combined with galore of the important changes with 2 different laws sends a wide awesome that her authorities is consenting to manipulate laws, intimidate First Nations and power nationalist sentiment to propulsion the separatist agenda," said Lewis.

"The Sovereignty Act has ever been astir undermining national authorization and asserting provincial control. This goes against our pact narration with the Crown."

The Alberta premier's bureau did not respond to a petition for remark by clip of publishing.

Bill 54, the Election Statutes Amendment Act, has sparked absorption from galore Indigenous leaders successful the state since it was tabled 2 weeks ago.

The measure would reduce the fig of signatures required to trigger a referendum and widen the signature postulation play to 90 days from 60.

On Wednesday, the state made changes to Bill 54, adding a clause that nary separation referendum question could endanger the existing pact rights of Indigenous radical successful Alberta.

Lewis said it's thing he's heard earlier during his years of negotiating agreements with governments.

"That clause is ever entered, but conjecture what? They don't honour it," Lewis said.

"Pure and simple, it's nothing…. It doesn't mean thing to me."

Lawyers for Onion Lake Cree Nation said the province has until June 6 to record a connection of defence against their lawsuit.

The First Nation launched a akin suit against Saskatchewan successful April 2023, arguing the province's Saskatchewan First Act also violates pact rights.