In a historic diplomatic engagement, seven chiefs from the Treaty 6 Confederacy held a significant meeting with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace this week. The gathering, which occurred as the 150th anniversary of Treaty Six approaches, focused primarily on escalating concerns regarding Alberta separatism and its potential impact on Indigenous treaty rights.
A Royal Audience for Treaty Concerns
The delegation, led by Treaty 6 Grand Chief Joey Pete of Sunchild First Nation, presented what they described as serious threats to treaty relationships stemming from political movements advocating for Alberta's separation from Canada. This meeting marked a rare direct engagement between First Nations leadership and the British monarchy regarding contemporary Canadian political issues.
"We made him aware of the separatism issue in Alberta and the threat to Treaty it represents," Grand Chief Pete stated following the meeting. "He expressed his concern and committed to learning more."
Request for Royal Proclamation
During the discussions, Chief Pete formally requested that King Charles III issue a Royal Proclamation reaffirming the sacred treaty relationship and sovereign rights of Treaty No. 6, 7, and 8 Nations. This request underscores the ongoing significance that First Nations leaders place on the Crown's historical role in treaty-making processes.
Louis Bull Tribe Chief Desmond Bull emphasized the international dimensions of their concerns, noting they alerted the King to "the international implications of the threats our Treaties currently face and Canada's ongoing failure to meet Treaty obligations." According to Chief Bull, the monarch took these matters "very seriously" during their exchange.
Invitation to 150th Anniversary Commemoration
The chiefs extended a formal invitation to King Charles III to attend the 150th commemoration of Treaty Six, scheduled for August 20-23 in Fort Carlton, Saskatchewan. This invitation represents both a symbolic gesture of continued relationship and an opportunity for the monarch to witness treaty commemorations firsthand.
Mistawasis Nêhiyawak Chief Daryl Watson described the overall visit as positive, noting that "The King was welcoming and was engaged, asking questions about what is happening on First Nations and how Treaties are being implemented and honoured." Chief Watson added that the monarch expressed commitment to "upholding the honour of the Crown under Treaty."
Historical Context and Contemporary Tensions
The meeting occurs against a backdrop of increasing First Nations protests against the ruling United Conservative Party's support for a pending referendum on Alberta separation. Treaty 6 leadership has been particularly vocal about how such political movements could undermine treaty rights and relationships established over a century and a half.
Other participants in the Buckingham Palace meeting included:
- Chief Edwin Ananas of Beardy's and Okemasis' Cree Nation
- Chief Larry Ahenkew of Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation
- Councillor Gary LaPlante of Stoney Knoll First Nation
- Chief Christine Longjohn of Sturgeon Lake First Nation
Government Response and Historical Connections
Alberta's Minister of Indigenous Relations, Rajan Sawhney, responded to the chiefs' actions with measured skepticism. Following a discussion with Chief Pete before his departure, Sawhney noted she was unaware of specific treaty violation allegations until after the meeting.
"I would like to know more about what he thinks those treaty violations are," Sawhney stated. "I think I'd have to speak to him, to hear from him directly, to understand his perspective, because at this point, I don't agree with those allegations."
The minister highlighted an upcoming meeting between Prime Minister Mark Carney, King Charles III, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer as potentially addressing broader relationship matters.
Historical Royal Engagement with Treaty Nations
King Charles III has previous connections with Alberta's Indigenous communities, having visited as Prince of Wales on multiple occasions. Notably, he attended the 100th anniversary of Treaty 7 at Blackfoot Crossing in 1976, where the Kainai First Nation bestowed upon him the name Red Crow—a significant honor recognizing his relationship with Indigenous peoples.
This latest meeting represents a continuation of that historical relationship while addressing urgent contemporary political concerns that Treaty 6 leadership believes threaten the very foundations of their treaty rights and sovereignty.
