The Council of Yukon First Nations has declared their traditional territory to be ‘frack free'

The Council of Yukon First Nations has declared their traditional territory to be ‘frack free,’ opposed to all hydraulic fracturing as a method in oil and gas exploration and extraction. The resolution was brought during the council’s annual meeting and passed unanimously. The group now calls for the Yukon government to oppose fracking. Environmental protection is a core value of the Yukon Nations, said Grand Chief Ruth Massie said. “I pledge to continue to protect our inherent rights, our land, our water, our environment as our ancestors would have wanted,” she said. “This is a game-changer,” said Don Roberts, chair of the Tukoners Concerned about Oil and Gas Development. “The First Nations are there to protect the land, protect the environment.” He considers them a powerful ally in the fight against the practice. “The basic issue is water. It takes millions of litres of water to do this process and it poisons the land and it poisons everything around you,” said Roberts.