The Mikisew Cree First Nation (MCFN) has taken legal action against the governments of Alberta and Canada, claiming that the nearby industrial activities, such as oilsands mines, have negatively impacted its land.
In a court filing, the First Nation, situated in northern Alberta, asserts that both governments have breached Treaty 8, a historic agreement signed with the Crown in 1899. The lawsuit alleges that the governments have allowed contamination of the land and water with substances leading to elevated cancer rates among MCFN members.
The statement of claim highlights that the defendants have failed to safeguard MCFN’s way of life and rights, resulting in significant restrictions on their traditional practices of hunting, fishing, trapping, and gathering. The introduction of pollutants, habitat fragmentation, land degradation, and incompatible land use have all contributed to the infringement of MCFN’s treaty rights.
Billy-Joe Tuccaro, the chief of MCFN, expressed concerns at a news conference in Edmonton, emphasizing that the federal and provincial authorities have neglected to adequately evaluate and mitigate the impacts of industrial operations on the community. The lawsuit aims to hold the governments accountable for breaching their treaty obligations and seeks to halt the approval of future projects affecting MCFN’s territory.
Additionally, MCFN is requesting full funding for land remediation, meaningful involvement in land management decisions, and enforceable agreements for wildlife and habitat restoration. The lawsuit underscores the urgency of addressing the health and environmental issues faced by the community due to industrial activities.
Federal Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Rebecca Alty and Alberta Indigenous Relations Minister Rajan Sawhney refrained from commenting on the ongoing legal proceedings. Opposition voices, such as Alberta NDP’s Indigenous relations critic Brooks Arcand-Paul, criticized the provincial government’s lack of consultation with First Nations, citing concerns raised by MCFN regarding rising cancer rates and community deaths.
Tuccaro highlighted a report commissioned by his council, which documented 149 cancer cases in Fort Chipewyan between 1993 and 2022. He expressed skepticism about the accuracy of the data, suggesting that the actual figures might be higher due to residents seeking treatment outside the community. Fort Chipewyan, home to various Indigenous communities, including MCFN, faces ongoing health challenges associated with industrial activities in the region.
While Alberta’s health officials claim to have monitored cancer rates in Fort Chipewyan since 2009 without observing an alarming increase compared to the rest of the province, Minister Adriana LaGrange acknowledged not having reviewed the latest study commissioned by MCFN. The legal battle between MCFN and the governments of Alberta and Canada underscores the pressing need to address environmental and health concerns affecting Indigenous communities.