A delegation from five British Columbia First Nations begins a tour of the Fort McMurray region today. Delegation members come from communities that will be directly affected by plans to send oilsands oil through British Columbia to the Pacific. They want to learn about the impacts of oilsands development in northern Alberta and to build relationships with Alberta First Nations that already experience these impacts first hand.
"Social and environmental threats from the oilsands boom will stretch far beyond Alberta," says Chief Kloumkhun, Hereditary Chief of the Wet'suwet'en First Nation. "We're already seeing plans for multiple pipelines across our traditional territories and for tanker traffic off the coast. Our leaders are keen to learn more about the profound impacts of this industry, and to build bridges with First Nations in northern Alberta."
The visiting delegation includes members from the Gitga'at, Haisla and Carrier-Nakazdli Nations, as well as the Gitxsan and Wet'suwet'en Nations, joint applicants in the landmark Delgamuukw/Gisday'wa decision on Aboriginal rights and title. Their tour, which is organized by the Pembina Institute and the Headwaters Initiative, will include presentations from Pembina Institute experts, a visit to the Oilsands Discovery Centre and a flyover of the oilsands.
"A clear majority of Albertans want the government to start managing the pace of oilsands development because upstream impacts are spiralling out of control," notes Simon Dyer, Oilsands Program Director with the Pembina Institute. "But downstream impacts are just as worrying. Governments need to show leadership and step up to the plate with effective regulations that will limit the entire spectrum of cumulative effects."
On Wednesday, tour participants will spend a day in Fort Chipewyan to meet with representatives from the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation and the Mikisew Cree First Nation.
"Oilsands development in the Athabasca region is destroying the traditional livelihoods of local First Nations," says Pat Marcel, an Elder of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation. "Sharing our stories with B.C. First Nations who are also threatened by this development is an important step. We can start finding ways to support each other in protecting our communities."
"Three weeks ago, Treaty 6, 7 and 8 Nations came together to call for a moratorium on new oilsands approvals," concludes George Poitras, member of the Mikisew Cree First Nation. "Now it's time for First Nations across the full span of the oilsands' toxic web to start sharing experiences and working together."
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For more information contact:
Gerald Amos, The Headwaters Initiative: 250-639-6315
Pat Marcel, Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation: 780-697-3745
George Poitras, Mikisew Cree First Nation: 780-838-8226
Chief Kloumkhun, Hereditary Chief, Wet'suwet'en First Nation: 250-877-9673
Simon Dyer, the Pembina Institute: 403-322-3937
More information and high resolution photographs of oilsands impacts are available at www.pembina.org/oil-sands