ALBERTA — Stay Free Alberta filed a petition on Monday seeking a referendum on whether the province should separate from Canada, delivering more than 300,000 signatures to the election office in Edmonton. An Alberta court has paused verification of those signatures pending a decision on a legal challenge by a group of indigenous First Nations.

Petition organizers had until this month to collect at least 178,000 signatures, or 10% of eligible voters, to trigger the referendum campaign. The organization has said it surpassed the threshold required.

"This day is historic in Alberta history. It's the first step to the next step - we've gotten by Round 3 and now we're in the Stanley Cup final." said Mitch Sylvestre, head of Stay Free Alberta.

If the signatures are ratified, Albertans could vote in an independence referendum as early as October 19. The ballot question would ask: "Do you agree that the Province of Alberta should cease to be part of Canada to become an independent state?"

The court challenge has been brought by a group of indigenous First Nations, with a decision expected later this month. Kevin Hille, a lawyer for the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, said he believes his clients have a strong case that may shut down the referendum question.

"An international border would impact their treaty rights and way of life." Hille said his clients believe an independent Alberta would mean the severing of those treaties.

In December, an Alberta court judge ruled that an independence referendum would be unlawful because it violates First Nations' rights as set out by Canada's constitution. The Alberta government has allowed the petition process to continue after amending its laws to remove a requirement for citizen-initiated referendums to be constitutional. The latest case before the courts asks whether the December decision holds despite that change, he said. He said an independence referendum would not be allowed to proceed unless proposed by the provincial government if his challenge is successful.

The Alberta separatist movement has its roots in western alienation. Polls suggest that about 25% of Albertans favor separating from Canada and the majority would vote against it. A counter "Forever Canadian" citizen-led petition launched in opposition to separation received 450,000 signatures and is currently before a committee that will determine its future.

Members of the separatist movement have met with officials from the Trump administration. Jeff Rath, a lawyer advocating for Alberta independence, said the meetings were to discuss a feasibility study on a possible $500 billion line of credit should the province separate. He said his group was not soliciting funding from the United States.