Dozens of people gathered in downtown Edmonton's Churchill Square on Sunday to protest the proposed Keystone XL pipeline project.

Environmental advocacy groups partnered with members of the Occupy Edmonton and Idle No More movements for the local rally on Sunday, which was planned to coincide with a major demonstration in Washington, D.C.

"To walk in Solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the United States to say no to Dirty Oil, No to Tar Sands, No to XL Pipeline," reads a Facebook page marking the rally. "Let's show president Obama that he has to think about the environment; lets convince him that we don't want this in our backyard nor in theirs."

Environmentalists are staunchly opposed to the planned pipeline, which would carry Alberta oilsands bitumen to refineries along the Texas coast.

U.S. President Barack Obama has yet to decide whether to go ahead with the controversial pipeline project, but Secretary of State John Kerry has said that a decision will be announced soon.

Alberta Premier Allison Redford has lauded the pipeline as a way to help tackle a projected $6 billion shortfall in the province's budget, claiming that a more effective way to deliver Alberta's resources would offset falling oil revenues.

Protesters at Sunday’s rally disagree.

"It's just an indication that the provincial government has put all of our eggs in one basket," said Eriel Deranger, a protester from the Athabasca Chippewan First Nation who said she came to the rally to fight for her son's future.

"We need to be diversifying energy and economy in this province," Deranger added.

Another Edmonton event is planned for February 23, according to Idle No More’s Facebook page.