The Chiefs of the Blackfoot Confederacy are responding to a decision by the Court of King’s Bench to pause the certification of a citizen led petition advancing Alberta separation, a development that places Treaty rights and constitutional obligations at the centre of the province’s future.

On April 10, 2026, the Court granted a stay preventing Alberta’s Chief Electoral Officer from certifying the petition results and blocking any referral to the Minister of Justice until the courts address legal challenges brought forward by Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation and the Blackfoot Confederacy. The ruling confirms that the issues raised are not procedural, but constitutional, including whether the Crown has met its duty to consult and whether the process infringes upon constitutionally protected Treaty rights. The Court further recognized that allowing the process to proceed without review presents the risk of ongoing and irreparable harm to Treaty relationships.

While signature collection may continue, the decision halts any further advancement of the petition and reinforces that proposals of this magnitude cannot move forward without addressing the legal and Treaty framework that governs these lands. For the Blackfoot Confederacy, this is consistent with what has been maintained throughout: that separation is not a provincial question alone, but one that directly engages Blackfoot Treaty 7 and the Nation-to-Nation relationship with the Crown.

Blackfoot Treaty 7 predates the creation of Alberta and remains a living, binding agreement that defines how this territory is shared. It affirms peace, coexistence, and mutual responsibility, and it continues to guide the relationship between First Nations and the Crown. Any attempt to move forward without the full and meaningful involvement of First Nations disregards that foundation and raises serious legal and jurisdictional concerns.

The Chiefs also point to a broader pattern in which First Nations are expected to respond to decisions already in motion, rather than being included from the outset, despite their role as Treaty partners. The current process follows that pattern and reinforces the need for clarity through the courts.

The Blackfoot Confederacy stands with Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, Mikisew Cree First Nation, and all Treaty Nations who have taken action to ensure their rights are upheld. The position is direct: Treaty must be honoured, the relationship must be respected, and First Nations must be part of any decision that impacts their lands.

In response, the Chiefs of the Blackfoot Confederacy issued the following statement: