“Long, hot summer” may mean more than demonstrations

A breach in March at Suncor Energy in northern Alberta underscores the message Chiefs from Canada and the United States are delivering.  It also underscores that patience is running out.

“It’s going to be a long, hot summer meaning the people are restless and the people are tired of being dictated to and I think you’re going to see a lot of demonstrations this summer as the time unfolds,” said Athabasca Chipewyan First Nations Chief Allan Adam.

And peaceful demonstrations may not be the only form of protest on the agenda.

“Sometimes it could be provoked to turn into something else. I don’t know at this point of time.… People do what they have to do in regards to moving forward and you know you can only oppress people so much and then they won’t stand for it any longer,” said Adam.

In an interview on CBC’s Power and Politic, Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver said, “They, of course, have every right in a democratic society to protest and make their views known but it has to be done within the confines of the law.”

Adam was joined by Chiefs from the Yinka Dene Alliance and the US in Ottawa on March 20 in opposition to proposed pipeline projects, specifically Enbridge’s Northern Gateway and TransCanada’s Keystone XL.

“There’s always more authority when people come together in numbers because it builds a profile on its own, that there are strength in numbers and it’s harder to break apart when coalitions happen,” said Adam.

While the ACFN was the only Alberta First Nation in attendance, Adam says First Nations across the province are “on the same page” when it comes to concerns about major economic development.

“We’re concerned about the fact that these pipelines are going to have major implications … and that the people who are going to be affected are the First Nations and … (we) oppose the project from moving forward in any ways or means until proper regulatory systems are in place to protect the livelihood of the people that are going to be affected if things go wrong.”

Emphasizing the concerns expressed by the First Nations was a breach suffered by Alberta Suncor Energy of its tar sands tailing pipeline resulting in a release into the Athabasca River.

“Does it make my arguments more credible or does it say that I’m still blowing wind out of my mouth for nothing?” asks Adam.
This is only the latest environmental concern when it comes to Suncor, one of the largest and oldest operators in the region.
Recently the government issued an enforcement order to Suncor, requiring the company to take corrective actions relating to a 2011 wastewater toxicity test failure in one of its ponds. The company has been ordered to temporarily suspend any discharges into that pond and to identify the source of the toxicity. Suncor has been given until the end of April 2013 to report to Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development.

Also of concern to Chiefs is the recent appointment by the federal government of Vancouver-based lawyer Doug Eyford as a special envoy for Aboriginal peoples in BC and Alberta.

Oliver told CBC that Eyford, was “well-regarded by the Aboriginal community.”

“The appointment means nothing,” said Adam, who is critical of Eyford’s mandate, which is to address concerns about environmental impact as well as finding ways for the Aboriginal community to benefit from pipeline developments. Eyford is to report directly to Prime Minister Stephen Harper. “And where does the Prime Minister sit? He doesn’t sit at the interests of the First Nations people.  It’s pretty obvious at this point.”

Adam is also critical of Eyford’s pedigree, pointing to the government-role Eyford holds as chief negotiator for treaty entitlement. Adam says 20 years of negotiating has gotten ACFN nowhere.

“It just goes to show he hasn’t done anything in dealing with ACFN on specific things, what makes you think that he’s going to do things other ways for the pipeline?” asked Adam.

However, Adam says he would take the opportunity to meet with Eyford if it were offered.

“But at this point in time, I don’t think he wants to meet with me because I’m too controversial. At this point of time, he doesn’t’ want to ruin his credibility in terms of moving forward,” said Adam.