King Charles expressed concern over Alberta separatism in meeting with Indigenous leaders: grand chief

The grand chief of the Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations says King Charles "expressed his concern" on Wednesday after hearing about a separatist push in Alberta during a face-to-face meeting with Indigenous leaders.

Grand Chief Joey Pete, who was part of a delegation of Treaty 6 chiefs who went to Buckingham Palace, said in a news release that the King was "very interested" in what the Indigenous leaders had to say.

"We made him aware of the separatism issue in Alberta and the threat to treaty it represents," the chief said.

"He expressed his concern and committed to learning more."

The meeting took place in response to invitations Indigenous leaders had sent to the King to attend an event this summer marking the 150th anniversary of Treaty 6 being signed.

Pete also said he asked the King to issue a royal proclamation to affirm the sacredness of the treaty and the rights it affords.

"It was a significant meeting, as treaty partners and equals."

Pete is also chief of the Sunchild First Nation, southwest of Edmonton.

Louis Bull Tribe Chief Desmond Bull, who was also part of the delegation, said another topic of conversation was Canada's "ongoing failure to meet treaty obligations."

"He took it all very seriously," Bull said.

Pete was not available for an interview with The Canadian Press, but earlier Wednesday he told CTV News that the King is planning to meet with Prime Minister Mark Carney next week.

Rajan Sawhney, Alberta's Indigenous relations minister, said Wednesday she was hoping to speak with Pete directly about the alleged treaty violations.

"I would like to know more about what he thinks those treaty violations are, and I think I'd have to speak to him, to hear from him directly, to understand his perspective," Sawhney told reporters at the provincial legislature in Edmonton.

"At this point I don't agree with those allegations."