First Nations Chiefs: Canada ignores tar sands environmental damage

PM and Ministers Turn Blind Eye to First Nations’ Tar Sands Concerns
MEDIA CONTACTS
Chief Roxanne Marcel – Mikisew Cree First Nation
tel. 780.697.3740 or 780.881.7099
Chief Allan Adam – Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation
tel. 780.713.1220
George Poitras – Mikisew Cree First Nation
tel. 780.972.0017

FORT CHIPEWYAN, ALBERTA – Canada’s Prime Minister and his ministers are continuing to ignore the concerns of First Nations’ communities being impacted by tar sands development.

“Prime Minister Harper has acknowledged that there are environmental issues from tar sands development, but his government is absolutely failing to take action,” noted Chief Roxanne Marcel of the Mikisew Cree First Nation. “He and his ministers are completely uninterested in hearing our concerns and discussing solutions.”

Federal Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt chose not to contact or meet with either the Athabasca Chipewyan or Mikisew Cree First Nations during a tour to the tar sands north of Fort McMurray on Tuesday that was coordinated by the Oil Sands Developers Group, an industry lobby group. Both First Nations have repeatedly voiced concerns over contamination of the Athabasca River due to tar sands mining and the potential health impacts on downstream communities, which are suffering an unusually high incidence rate of rare cancers

“The industry’s own polling shows that Canadians don’t trust the tar sands industry and it’s no wonder,” said George Poitras, a member of the Mikisew Cree First Nation. “With industry, it’s all about spin and public relations – they do not acknowledge our health concerns and the environmental damage that has already been caused.”

Last week the president of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) was quoted as saying “We've dropped the ball on getting our message out and communicating. We have not dropped the ball on environmental performance as an industry.” A poll commissioned by CAPP found that 50 per cent of respondents don't believe what oil executives say about tar sands and 44 per cent do not believe information provided by oil companies.

“The federal government is neglecting its environmental responsibilities and ignoring our concerns,” stated Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation. “When the government fails to engage with First Nations about our concerns, and fails to respect our rights, these things have nowhere to go but the courts.”

In December, the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation initiated legal action against the Government of Alberta for failing to fulfill its duty to consult the band prior to selling oil sands permits to Shell Canada and other companies on traditional lands, thereby making the permits invalid.
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Jihan Gearon
Indigenous Environmental Network
Native Energy and Climate Campaign
P.O. Box 2696
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