Calgary Briefs - June

Photo Caption: Students and donors stand together, appreciating the new advantages they can give each other. MEG Energy will work with Portage College to acquire more material.

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MEG Energy donates welding rods to Portage College

Portage College has benefitted from unused material that an energy company had left after a job. MEG Energy, a Calgary-based company, had a large supply of welding rods left over from construction of an oil sands facility. Industry regulations prohibited MEG from using these leftover materials on facility expansion so they donated them to Portage College for its welding apprenticeship program. This in-kind donation, estimated to be worth $55,000, will serve the college’s welding program for up to 10 years. Supplies such as these are a significant contribution to the college’s trades programs. MEG and Portage College are now working together to secure other materials that can be used for educational programs. MEG’s staff members were applauded for their innovative approach that is environmental, educational and community-minded.

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First Nations protest Northern Gateway Pipeline

An annual shareholders meeting at Enbridge’s Calgary headquarters was the site of a recent protest by First Nations. First Nations from Alberta, British Columbia and Manitoba marched to the office to let it be known that they refuse to allow the pipeline to run through traditional territories. The proposed pipeline would cover 1,170 km from Alberta to Kitimat, B.C. and carry 525,000 barrels of crude oil daily, destined for Asia and the U.S. First Nations want to halt the project because of the risk of an oil spill and its devastating effects on the environment. In a written statement the opponents said, “A decision by Canada to approve this project, without the free, prior and informed consent of affected Nations will be a violation of our Treaties, our rights, and our laws, and will be in breach of the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and other international accords.” The National Energy Board will conduct public hearings on the Gateway Project in January and June 2012. Concerns are not unwarranted. Other spills such as the Exxon Valdez, BP’s spill on the U.S. Gulf Coast and more recently a Plains Midstream Canada pipeline spill of 28,000 barrels near Little Buffalo, a Lubicon First Nation village have been cited as disastrous accidents. First Nations want Enbridge to guarantee no spills which Enbridge says is impossible.

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Stoney Nakoda claim languishes for 16 years

A claim filed in 1995 by the Chiniki, Bearspaw and Wesley bands against the federal government, alleges that Highway 1A, which runs through their reserve, was built on their land illegally. Long delays, including the retirement of an officer assigned to the case finally led to provincial and federal meetings with plaintiffs in 2008 and 2010 to discuss a land transfer agreement. Last November the provincial government agreed to examinations for discovery but abruptly changed its mind. Doug Rae of Rae and Company, counsel for the Stoney Nakoda Nation, believes that Judge John Reilly’s controversial book based on his experience as a circuit court judge on the Nation has influenced the decision to halt proceedings. “The possibility that Judge Reilly may have had an influence on the course of action taken by the defendants in this action is not a frivolous allegation, but very serious and highly concerning,” said the complaint in a document filed with Court of Queen’s Bench on April 29. Rae believes that the 16-year dispute will not be resolved any time in the near future.

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Long time Mountie joins band police

Dawn Johnson, a long time Mountie, has joined the Tsuu T’ina Nation Police as a constable. Over 20 years ago, while growing up in Ontario’s Six Nations community she was a victim of crime. Ontario Provincial Police Constable Clayton Lawrence’s compassionate treatment of her family left a lasting impression on Johnson, influencing her career choice. Raised by a single mother, Johnson was always employed but sought greater opportunities off the reserve. Although she had only completed Grade 9, Johnson graduated from a law program at Mohawk College as a mature student. From there she went on to become an RCMP.  Recently, she reconnected with Const. Lawrence to let him know the profound influence he had on her life. Working on recruiting at the Tsuu T’ina Nation led Johnson back to the Aboriginal community. “The refreshing thing about Aboriginal communities is they tend to focus more on identifying the problem and less on the punishment,” she said. “I believe I fit in because I had similar situations growing up; I am cognizant of the tradition and values of Native cultures.”

Compiled by Darlene Chrapko