Piikani Nation Raises Voice on Water, Rights and Treaty Threats

By Lethbridge Herald on April 9, 2026.

By Alexandra Noad

Last weekend a number of elders, youth and members of the Piikani Nation gathered in a peaceful protest to talk about current issues the Nation is facing regarding water rights, environmental issues and the threat of separatism imposed on them.

Troy “Bossman” Knowlton, chief of the Piikani Nation says he reached out to both the provincial and federal ministers of environment in the hopes to have meaningful conversation to come to a resolution to the problem. Unfortunately, neither minister was able to attend.

Knowlton says Grant Hunter, environment minister responded to the invite stating he was not willing to come to the event.

He adds the refusal by the minister to attend is an example of how reluctant they are to find meaningful resolutions with the Piikani nation, even after the $64.3 million settlement agreement regarding land and water disputes, which included nine different claims, including impacts from the Oldman River Dam.

“As part of our settlement agreement in 2002, we agreed we would work together to find meaningful resolutions to ongoing problems,” he says. “The province has been very reluctant to meet with us, unless push comes to shove, and this was an example of it.”

The Lethbridge Herald did reach out to the minister but has yet to receive a response.

The Piikani nation is not only concerned with land and water rights and consultation, especially with the passing of the Water Amendment Act, they are also concerned by the threat of their treaties posed by Albertan separatism.

Treaties are a sacred binding oath between two parties in Indigenous culture. Despite the challenges they have and continue to face with the Federal Government, many choose to uphold their end of the agreements. Treaty 7, which includes the Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, Tsuut’ina and Stoney Nakoda Nations was signed on Sept. 22, 1877, before Alberta was even a province.

Knowlton says First Nations across the province are becoming unified in the fight for their Treaties and rights and are being supported by other Nations across the country.

“We’ve gotten the support of all First Nations across Canada in our attempts to really change the narrative in Alberta,” says Knowlton. “In particular, the sovereignty act, the separation question and the total blatant disrespect for the treaties sign with the Crown and transferred to the Crown of Canada.”

Last week, Knowlton joined Grand Chiefs from Saskatchewan and Manitoba, along with the Assembly of First Nations in Edmonton to discuss the history of some of the laws and policies imposed on First Nations and how it’s had a negative impact on their people and has exploited the natural resources from their traditional lands.

In 1877, when Treaty 7 was signed, not one of the members spoke English. Now, nearly 150 years later, Knowlton says his people are finally on a level playing field.

“Today we’ve got doctors of all disciplines; we’ve got lawyers, whether corporate, criminal or family; we’ve got crown prosecutors; we’ve got judges who’ve sat on the federal courts, and many of our leadership are educated in some manner, as far as post-secondary.”

While having educated and influential people represent their tribes, Knowlton says the biggest strength has come only in recent years, as First Nations have become more unified than ever before.

“Traditionally, going back 100 years, we’re very territorial. We were looking at protecting the natural resources, which includes the buffalo, the water and a number of other areas.”

He adds these territorial protections often included wars and battles with each other, but despite the historical battles, hurts and anger has been set aside, something which makes Knowlton very optimistic for the future of his people.

“I’m coming up on the end of my fourth term; I’ve never seen First Nations be unified the way I’m seeing today-makes me very, very proud (and) very optimistic that changes are going to be coming.”

Knowlton emphasises they are still in a battle to protect the rights and resources of his people; it is a battle he believes can and will be won.