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Edmonton, Alberta:
Proposed rules for managing water withdrawals from the Athabasca
River by oil sands mining operations will not protect the
interests of downstream First Nations by continuing to allow oil
sands operators to withdraw water from the Athabasca River
during critical flow periods.
The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nations (AFCN) and The Mikisew
Cree First Nation (MFCN) recently reviewed recommended water
withdrawal rules for the Athabasca River, released by the Phase
Two Framework Committee in January 2010 to Alberta Environment
and the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). The
AFCN and The MFCN determined that the proposed rules must be
significantly strengthened to protect the Athabasca River,
including its fisheries and navigability for traditional use
purposes. First Nations continue to depend on the Athabasca
River today as they have for thousands of years, to support
their livelihood and ability to meaningfully exercise
constitutionally protected Aboriginal and Treaty Rights.
“It seems that every draft regarding environmental protection
that we review makes more concessions to the oil sands industry
rather than protecting the rights and interests of First
Nations,” said Chief Roxanne Marcel of the Mikisew Cree First
Nation. “The draft proposal does not provide us with the
certainty to ensure that enough water will be there to sustain
our livelihood. If this proposal is adopted by the federal and
provincial governments, then the Crown is once again failing to
fulfill their Treaty obligations with us.”
After careful consideration, the science and resulting
recommendations were found to be severely inadequate for
protecting the ability of ACFN and MCFN to sustain their
traditional way of life and ability to meaningfully exercise
their Aboriginal and Treaty Rights. Since the proposed
recommendations are based on a wide array of assumptions and
uncertainty, it is recommended that the Governments of Canada
and Alberta reject the committee’s recommendations.
Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation said:
“We encourage Premier Stelmach to ‘Rethink’ his public
relations-focused defence of the oil sands industry and show
some leadership in ensuring the Athabasca River, and the
Aboriginal and Treaty Rights of downstream First Nations are
protected from oil sands development.”
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