Onion Lake Cree Nation Challenges Alberta Sovereignty Act

Amidst the discourse concerning Alberta separatism, Onion Lake Cree Nation (OLCN) is refusing to sit quietly.

“What if we sat back and did nothing? That essentially means we would accept the way things were back then,” said OLCN Okimaw Henry Lewis.

“I think it’s serious. Serious enough to warrant caution because a lot of Albertans are fed up with the federal government,” he said.

OLCN sits on the Saskatchewan-Alberta border, and believes they would be significantly impacted by Alberta separating from Canada. As such, the First Nation is pursuing a legal challenge against Alberta’s Sovereignty Act and related policies they believe to violate treaty rights.

“The main thing is, our funding would be seized, based on treaty. If they succeed in (separating from Canada), I’m one-hundred percent confident that those treaty rights would be offloaded,” said Lewis.

On April 29, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s government advanced a separatist cause by introducing Bill 54, which lowers the number of names required for a citizen initiated petition to be considered in order to call for a referendum. It also adds 30 days to the period in which signatures can be acquired.

The Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act was originally passed in December 2022, and has since drawn a significant amount of criticism from First Nations. It was used in November 2024 to push back against the federal governments proposed cap on oil and gas emissions, arguing it was unconstitutional.

OLCN first filed a constitutional challenge in 2022 after the introduction of the Act, but had put it on the back-burner, said Lewis. Now that the Smith has advanced a separatist agenda, Lewis said they will start a litigation process.

“When this first came around in 2022, we tried to get the Premier to come and sit down with us, to get a feel of what their intentions were. That meeting never took place and she never responded,” said Lewis.

“To date, we’ve had no contact and she’s made no effort to communicate with us.”

Lewis said he’d like to see the Bill be pulled back entirely. He said the province’s intentions to undermine federal law and take their own control goes against treaty relationships with the Crown.

“It’s very insulting. Our lands are protected under the Indian Act. If they pulled away, our lands wouldn’t be protected under a separate Alberta law,” said Lewis. “I believe they’re disregarding Treaty.”

Smith’s government recently added a clause to the Bill to honour and respect all existing treaty rights.

Lewis has little reason to be assured by the new clause.

“It doesn’t mean anything to me. I’ve dealt with a lot of agreements from the federal government – that clause is always in there, and they don’t follow it.”

Lewis said he is one of many Chiefs he he’s had conversations with that share his concerns.

In late May, Lewis travelled to Ottawa to represent OLCN at King Charles’ Throne Speech, where the King became the first reigning monarch to read a speech from the throne of Canada since 1977.

Lewis said he was disappointed the speech didn’t address treaty and inherent Indigenous rights.

“That’s very concerning coming from the Crown, who we should be having an allegiance with,” said Lewis. “The King (acknowledging Treaty and inherent rights) could be a door opener for the relationship we’ve lost.”