Two health studies could run simultaneously in Fort Chip area

After pushing both the federal and provincial governments for years for funding to study health concerns in the Fort Chipewyan area, the Mikisew Cree First Nation is bowing out of the possibility of a provincially-funded study that will do just that.

“Primarily there’s no confidence by the leadership with Alberta Health or Health Canada because of our previous attempts to study health in Fort Chipewyan,” said George Poitras, CEO with the Mikisew Cree. “Council felt it was just more window dressing, it was like delay tactics. They felt they wouldn’t get the degree of satisfaction of studies that they felt was a priority for the community.”

The University of Calgary has applied for $1.2 million over a three-year period from the provincial government to examine health issues in the region.

“The funding has not been finalized at this time. We remain committed to supporting Fort Chipewyan’s community members in their effort to assess the health of their community,” said Howard May, spokesman for Alberta Health in an email interview.

If that funding is finalized, John Rigney, director of special projects for Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, says his band will be involved.

Rigney says previous talks about health studies had left ACFN leadership uncomfortable with the role the province would play. However, after having met with members of the U of C research team, leadership is confident that the health study will be community-driven.

“It is intended to be responsive to the community’s health concerns,” said Rigney.

May says the team from U of C will meet with members from the ACFN, Métis Local 125, and Nunee Health Board Society to determine membership for an advisory committee.

“The community groups involved will work with the University of Calgary to determine what the health assessment will look like. The assessment will be informed by the health priorities identified by the community,” said May.

Rigney expects the study to look at a wide range of health concerns that face the community.

For the MCFN, that isn’t good enough.

“Primarily they don’t want to look too deeply into the cancer issue and obviously it is a priority for the leadership in Fort Chipewyan,” said Poitras.

High rates of cancer have been an issue broached numerous times by the First Nation as well as a number of doctors, including Dr. John O’Connor, who publicized his concerns as it related to cancer in his patients who lived downstream from tarsands development. O’Connor was sanctioned by Health Canada in 2007. O’Connor’s concerns have also been voiced by University of Alberta scientist Dr. David Schindler. Poitras said council will meet with these doctors and a handful of other “key people” who are familiar with the health concerns in Fort Chipewyan for preliminary discussions to determine next steps.

“Council is very committed to providing resources for making this a reality,” said Poitras, who added that the costs are “secondary to our leadership. What’s important is we need to get this off the ground and we will do it independently.”

Rigney is confident that Mikisew’s study and the U of C’s study can complement each other.

Poitras said Chief Allan Adam and council will commit funding to follow through on any preventive measures that are raised through the study.

A similar commitment is not yet forthcoming from the province.
“It would be premature to speculate on next steps without seeing the results, but we are committed to continuing the dialogue,” said May.