King Charles III expressed his concern over the Alberta separatist movement during a meeting with First Nations chiefs at Buckingham Palace, according to a delegation of Indigenous leaders who travelled to London.

Grand Chief Joey Pete of the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations said he and other leaders made the King aware of what they described as the threat the movement posed to treaties signed between First Nations and the Crown more than a century ago. The King was described as very interested in what the chiefs had to say and committed to learning more.

What the Right Is Saying

The Alberta separatist movement, led by a group called the Alberta Prosperity Project, argues that the province would be financially better off if it were to form its own sovereign country. The movement's sentiments date back decades and are rooted in a belief among some Albertans that the province has been underrepresented at the federal level despite being home to much of Canada's oil wealth.

Under Alberta's Referendum Act, organizers must collect 177,732 valid signatures by May for a referendum question to be verified and potentially approved. Members of the Alberta Prosperity Project have said they believe they will be able to gather more than the required signatures to force a referendum.

Alberta's Indigenous relations minister, Rajan Sawhney, told reporters she would like to meet Chief Pete to discuss the alleged treaty violations but stated: 'At this point, I don't agree with these allegations.'

What the Left Is Saying

First Nations leaders across Alberta have voiced strong opposition to the separatist movement, arguing that any provincial secession would violate existing treaty rights protected by the Canadian constitution. Treaty 8, signed by First Nation communities in northern Alberta among other places, would require Indigenous consent for any change to the treaty relationship.

Grand Chief Pete called the meeting with the King significant, stating that the chiefs asked for a Royal Proclamation affirming their treaties with the Crown and the rights afforded under them. 'It was a significant meeting, as Treaty partners and equals,' Pete said in a statement.

Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation has taken legal action against the Alberta government, arguing that allowing separatists to gather signatures for a referendum violates treaty rights. The statement of claim said Alberta has treated the First Nation 'as though they are chattel on the land, merely an afterthought in forced negotiations.'

Earlier this week, a group of First Nations leaders gathered at the Alberta legislature in Edmonton to call on Premier Danielle Smith to quash any possible secession referendum and to hold a no-confidence vote in her government over the matter.

What the Numbers Show

Under Alberta's Referendum Act, the separatist movement needs to collect 177,732 valid signatures by May to force a secession referendum. The movement is gathering signatures to potentially place the question on the ballot in October.

Treaties between First Nations and the Crown date back prior to Canada's creation, with some signed in the 19th century. These treaty rights are recognized and affirmed by Section 35 of the Canadian Constitution Act, 1982.

Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to meet with King Charles on Monday during a trip to the UK. Carney told reporters that the monarch had engaged in a fulsome discussion with the chiefs and that there are many subjects for them to discuss.

The Bottom Line

The King's expression of concern marks a significant intervention in the Alberta separatist debate, though Buckingham Palace has not issued a formal statement on the meeting. First Nations leaders are seeking constitutional protection through treaty affirmation, while separatist organizers continue gathering signatures for a potential referendum.

The legal challenge from Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation could potentially block the referendum from proceeding if courts find it violates treaty rights. The outcome of both the signature drive and the lawsuit will likely determine whether Alberta moves closer to a formal secession vote in the months ahead.