Albertans stand for united Canada ahead of separation referendum
By Elaine Liang, August 12 2026—
Waving Alberta and Canadian flags, Albertans gathered in downtown Calgary on June 27 for the Albertans for a United Canada rally.
Ahead of the provincial referendum this fall, participants voiced their opposition to separation and expressed solidarity with Treaties 6, 7 and 8.
The rally brought together community members, Indigenous advocates and political organizers who called for Canadian unity and honouring the treaties and Indigenous sovereignty.
Organizer Chelsea Barnowich told the Gauntlet what motivated the rally.
“Canadian unity. That’s it,” Barnowich said. “I think Canada is defined by its people, and it’s the people that keep it united.”
She said that while Canadians may have their differences, people need to come together to prevent Alberta from moving toward separation.
Alberta’s upcoming referendum, scheduled for Oct. 19, will ask voters the following:
“Should Alberta remain a province of Canada, or should the Government of Alberta commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada?”
During her opening remarks, Barnowich referenced ongoing legal disputes over consultation between the Alberta government and Treaty 6, 7 and 8 First Nations. The rally came after treaty chiefs called on the RCMP to investigate Alberta Premier Danielle Smith for treason, arguing Indigenous treaty rights were being disrespected. Smith responded by saying they should “check themselves.”
Joanne Dan of the Blackfoot Confederacy explained her concerns regarding the disputes.
“Canada now wants to abolish our treaties, our status rights […] if we lose our treaty rights, we then will have nothing,” she said.
Dan said First Nations were not meaningfully consulted on the province’s separation plans and criticized the premier’s response to treaty chiefs.
“For the Indigenous, we weren’t even consulted,” Dan said. “Danielle Smith […] disrespecting again to say the chiefs need to check themselves. Danielle needs to check herself. Alberta is not Danielle’s playground to do as she will.”
Indigenous advocate Nichole Johnston also spoke about the importance of treaty relationships, describing them as ongoing agreements rather than historical documents.
“The treaties are living promises, promises that continue to bind us today,” said Johnston. “They were made between the Crown and sovereign First Nations, not between a government and its subjects.”
Johnston said the duty to consult Indigenous communities is a constitutional obligation, not an optional process.
“Meaningful consultation is […] more than holding one meeting,” she said. “It’s more than informing First Nations after decisions have already been made. Consultation must begin before decisions are finalized.”
“Respecting treaties does not weaken Alberta. It strengthens Alberta,” Johnston said.
Several attendees said concerns about treaty rights and Alberta’s political direction were among the reasons they attended the rally.
Jade said they came to support Indigenous communities.
“My family is Indigenous. My mother was a Sixties Scoop baby […] so it deeply impacts me because we had our ancestry and our heritage and our culture stolen from us,” said Jade. “To hear a government blatantly picking a fight with Indigenous groups in this province who are simply standing up to protect the treaties that have a history of being ignored […] it’s just frustrating.”
Peter, a volunteer with Forever Canadian, said they attended because they wanted Albertans to recognize the benefits of remaining part of Canada.
“I wanted to help people become aware of how good we have it,” said Peter. “We can be very complacent when things are going well, and I just want that complacency to stop.”
Charlotte, another attendee, carried a flag in honour of their father, who served in the military.
“My dad was in the war and you know, he fought hard for Canada,” said Charlotte. “I’m carrying a flag for him because he would be so disgusted with what’s happening within the province and how people are rallying around this idea of leaving.”
Barnowich said she hopes the rally encourages Albertans to remain engaged in discussions about the province’s future as the referendum approaches.
“We can’t just roll over and be quiet,” she said. “I just want people to keep showing up, to keep encouraging more people to come to these things, to make our voices heard.”