Fort McKay, AB, APril 25, 2013 – Lack of buffer zone will compromise Fort McKay’s traditional territory. The community of Fort McKay presented their opening statements to the Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) yesterday afternoon in Fort McMurray, AB. Members of the Fort McKay community and their supporters filled the room to near capacity as Fort McKay community witnesses took the stand. Representing Fort McKay on the stand were Fort McKay First Nation elected officials Raymond Powder and Gerald Gladue, Fort McKay Metis Community elected official Ron Quintal, Elders, and community members. Fort McKay First Nation Chief Jim Boucher and Councilors Ruth McKenzie and David Bouchier were in attendance to show their support.
Fort McKay is formally objecting to part of a proposed Dover OPCO project in the area located on the border of its Moose Lake reserve in northeast Alberta and on Fort McKay traditional territory. Fort McKay stands against this project because Dover has not adjusted its project plan to accommodate a critical 20 KM buffer that would protect traditional territory surrounding Namur and Gardiner lakes, known locally as “Moose Lake.” The Dover project proposes a five-phase 250,000-barrel-per-day facility. The project would use steam assisted gravity drainage technology (SAGD) and will impact the last and best remaining traditional service land on the west side of the Athabasca River that can be used for cultural land use and the exercise of treaty and Aboriginal rights.
Councilor Raymond Powder provided opening remarks. Addressing the ERCB Board, he stated “We have consulted our members about the Dover Project, over the course of many meetings…What we have learned is that the project, if it is not modified, will cause losses that surpass our community’s ability to accommodate them or tolerate them…We have heard clearly that Moose Lake is valued by our Elders, by our youth, by our young families, by everyone [in Fort McKay]. We have heard that economic benefits from development will mean nothing if we lose our heritage and identity. The message to us has been clear and precise: Moose Lake must be preserved if we are to sustain our traditional way of life.”
While the Fort McKay community is objecting to the Dover OPCP project, Fort McKay is not in opposition to resource development in principle. Dover is one of many oil sands projects that will dramatically affect Fort McKay’s critical cultural lands. Fort McKay has put forward proposals to Dover OPCO and the Government of Alberta for reasonable protection measures that would allow this project to continue while lessening the impact to the environment and community.
Ron Quintal, President of the Fort McKay Metis Community, shared the concerns of the Fort McKay Metis to the ERCB board in his own opening remarks. “Our peoples’ vision is to be a ‘growing, economically and socially prosperous community in a secure, healthy, and culturally proud environment’ and we worry that the proposed project will not help us secure this vision for our community.”
Fort McKay First Nation will continue to present their concerns to the Energy Resources Conservation Board about the proposed development. The hearing is expected to finish next week, after which the ERCB Board will take time to deliberate before announcing their decision.
The community of Fort McKay is located alongside the banks of the Athabasca River in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, north of Fort McMurray. There are approximately 650 Dene, Cree and Métis community members living in Fort McKay. The Fort McKay First Nation shares a border with the Fort McKay Métis Community, and together call Fort McKay home.
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For media enquiries contact:
Dayle Hyde, Communications Director
Fort McKay First Nation
780.881.5715 (cell)
dhyde@fortmckay.com