First Nations leaders in Alberta are launching a campaign to boost voter turnout and counter the separatist movement ahead of the October provincial referendum.

The initiative, inspired by the 2015 'Rock the Vote' campaign that achieved record on-reserve participation, aims to ensure First Nations communities have the necessary documents to vote.Grand Chief Trevor Mercredi of Treaty 8 First Nations emphasized the importance of mobilizing voters to protect treaty rights.Challenges include many Indigenous people lacking civic addresses or required ID, such as a driver’s licence.Tania Cameron, who organized the 2015 campaign, is now helping Alberta First Nations defend their treaty rights.The 2015 federal election saw a significant increase in on-reserve voter turnout, rising from 33.3% in 2011 to 56.6%.Cameron’s efforts include creating an ID toolkit and hosting registration drives.The upcoming Alberta referendum includes questions on whether the province should remain part of Canada or pursue separation.

Communities are preparing to protect their treaty rights regardless of the referendum outcome, with legal preparedness highlighted by leaders like Chief Kelsey Jacko of Cold Lake First Nations.

The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) has also passed an emergency resolution to safeguard treaty rights from separatist threats, aligning with Quebec chiefs who faced a separation referendum in 1995.