After persistent requests from the local residents for more than 20 years, a study funded by the government will commence to investigate the health effects of oilsands on the inhabitants of Fort Chipewyan, an Indigenous settlement in northern Alberta. There have been longstanding beliefs among many community members that there is a connection between the occurrences of cancer in Fort Chipewyan and the industrial projects located upstream along the Athabasca River.
The Kearl mine operated by Imperial Oil, the site of a significant wastewater spill in 2023, is situated approximately 140 kilometers away from Fort Chipewyan. The closest project is the Fort Hills mine of Suncor Energy, located over 90 kilometers away. The research will involve analyzing both current and historical health data, studying local disease patterns, monitoring individuals and the surroundings, and assessing how environmental changes influence the community’s culture and daily life.
The study, named Project Monument Hill after a local viewpoint overseeing Fort Chipewyan and Lake Athabasca, was announced by the federal government in August 2024. The initial funding for the planning and governance phase of the $12 million, 10-year study was provided in March. The research methodology will incorporate both western scientific practices and Indigenous knowledge of the land.
Community representatives, including the Fort Chipewyan Métis Nation, the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN), and the Mikisew Cree First Nation (MCFN), will oversee the study conducted by independent researchers. The federal government will have an observer role in the process. Ruby Ladouceur, the president of the Fort Chipewyan Métis Nation, emphasized that the aim of the study is to comprehend the relationship between environmental conditions, traditional land use, and the well-being of the community.
Dr. John O’Connor, who has been advocating for an investigation into cancer cases in Fort Chipewyan since 2006, expressed satisfaction that the study is finally underway. However, he expressed concerns about the lengthy 10-year timeline of the study. Past reports on cancer in Fort Chipewyan have been criticized for not including individuals who left the community, such as those seeking cancer treatment.
Studies in 2009 and 2014 highlighted elevated cancer rates in Fort Chipewyan compared to the rest of Alberta and noted the presence of harmful substances in plants and animals in the area. A report by Dr. James Talbot in 2014 suggested lifestyle factors and limited medical resources as possible reasons for the cancer statistics, rather than industrial exposure. Local leaders have criticized previous reports for not being comprehensive community health studies.
The new investigation aims to focus on how environmental changes resulting from oilsands activities have affected the health of Indigenous people in Fort Chipewyan, rather than solely considering lifestyle factors. Limited publicly available data exists on the relationship between cancer in Fort Chipewyan and the impact of oilsands developments on the environment, according to community representatives.