A Canadian court in Alberta throws out a separatist group’s bid to hold a referendum on secession from Canada, citing a failure to consult Indigenous peoples. Justice Shaina Leonard of the Court of King’s Bench rules that the provincial government and the referendum effort do not meet their legal obligations to engage with First Nations before collecting signatures. The decision effectively shuts down the petition pathway the separatists sought to use to force a vote on independence. The court finds the consultation requirement was not satisfied, a point highlighted across multiple reports. As a result, the separatists are not able to proceed with the planned referendum process based on the petition as submitted. The ruling underscores the role of Indigenous consultation in Canadian legal and political processes when government-linked actions affect Indigenous rights or interests. The articles do not indicate whether the separatist group can pursue the initiative again after completing the required consultation steps.