First Nations communities across Alberta are stepping up efforts to encourage Indigenous voters to participate in the province’s upcoming referendum on October 19, warning that staying away from the polls could have serious consequences for their treaty rights, sovereignty and future generations. The campaign is gaining momentum as Indigenous leaders organise voter education sessions, registration drives and community outreach programmes to ensure their members understand the issues and have an opportunity to make their voices heard. For many First Nations leaders, the referendum is not simply another political exercise but a decision with potentially far-reaching implications for their relationship with Alberta and the rest of Canada. Angel Houle, municipal affairs coordinator for the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations, is among those leading the mobilisation effort. Although she has never previously voted in an Alberta provincial election, she considers this referendum particularly important and is helping First Nations leaders prepare teams to encourage participation among community members.
Houle and other staff members have been organising workshops to provide participating First Nations with the resources and information needed to reach voters. The teams are working directly within communities, explaining where and how to vote and highlighting why participation matters. “The decisions being made in this referendum matter to treaty people and our nations and our future generations,” Houle said. She also delivered a strong message about the importance of participation, warning that silence could be interpreted as consent. According to Houle, more community members have recently been asking questions and seeking information, indicating growing interest in the referendum and its possible consequences. The October 19 referendum will include 10 questions, nine dealing with immigration and constitutional issues and one addressing Alberta’s future relationship with Canada. On the separation issue, voters will be asked whether Alberta should remain a province of Canada or whether the provincial government should begin the legal process required to hold a second, binding referendum on separation.
The distinction is particularly important for First Nations communities because their treaty relationships were established with the Crown before Alberta became a province. Indigenous leaders have repeatedly argued that any discussion about Alberta’s possible separation must recognise their existing rights and obligations under those treaties. Several First Nations leaders have expressed concern that their communities have not been adequately included in the separation debate. They argue that the province cannot make decisions about its constitutional future without properly addressing the rights and interests of Indigenous peoples. The controversy has also led to a legal battle. A coalition of First Nations challenged the citizen-initiated separation petition, arguing that the Alberta government had failed to fulfil its constitutional duty to consult Indigenous communities. In May, an Alberta Court of King’s Bench judge struck down the petition, ruling that the required consultation had not taken place. Premier Danielle Smith’s government subsequently announced an appeal. Despite the legal dispute, the provincial government proceeded with plans for the October referendum, presenting it as an opportunity for Albertans to express their views while the legal process continues. To strengthen the voter mobilisation campaign, First Nations organisations have also sought assistance from experienced Indigenous political organisers. Tania Cameron, an Ojibwa woman from Ontario who launched the First Nations Rock the Vote campaign more than a decade ago, recently spent over a week in Alberta working with Indigenous leaders and communities. Cameron has been sharing strategies for increasing voter participation, organising community information sessions and helping leaders build effective outreach networks. Her work has included engagement with communities connected to Treaty 8 Sovereign First Nations. She said she has seen growing enthusiasm, with communities organising voter registration initiatives, educating members about treaty rights and holding ceremonies to recognise the importance of the campaign. Cameron also pointed to the experience of the 2015 federal election, when voter participation on First Nations reserves in Alberta reportedly increased by approximately 25 percentage points. Some communities even ran out of ballots because of the high turnout. She believes a similarly strong mobilisation could influence the upcoming referendum.
The campaign is not without challenges. Organisers must ensure voters have the necessary identification, understand the voting procedures and can access polling stations. Language barriers are another concern, particularly for community members whose first language is not English. Houle said First Nations groups are working to translate the referendum questions and provide information in different languages. They are also arranging for chiefs and other community representatives to assist eligible voters with the necessary documentation at polling stations. Outreach efforts are being extended to Indigenous people living outside their home communities as well.
Tsuut’ina Nation Head Chief Ellery Starlight has also emphasised the importance of the vote. His nation is a signatory to Treaty 7, and he believes Canada’s foundation rests on treaty relationships that must be respected. Starlight has called on Albertans to participate and support unity, while expressing concern about the divisions the separation debate has created.
He also questioned why First Nations communities appear to be carrying such a significant share of the responsibility for encouraging voter participation, particularly given the economic and social challenges many Indigenous communities continue to face.
Meanwhile, Elections Alberta has reported substantial interest in the referendum, having dispatched more than 652,000 mail-in ballots. The agency has estimated that overall voter turnout could reach 85 per cent, potentially exceeding Alberta’s previous provincial record of nearly 82 per cent, recorded in the 1935 general election. Although First Nations communities are not politically uniform and individuals may hold different views, several Indigenous organisations are actively encouraging participation and advocating for Alberta to remain within Canada. Their central concern is that decisions about the province’s future must not overlook treaty rights, Indigenous sovereignty and the constitutional responsibilities owed to First Nations. As October 19 approaches, the mobilisation campaign is expected to intensify. For Indigenous leaders, the message is clear: participation is essential, and every eligible voter should have the opportunity to express their position on an issue that could shape Alberta’s political future for generations.