One idea that came up in class often throughout this semester is the belief in which the land and body are equally as important; since you are very much a part of and attached to the earth. If the land is unhealthy, so are the people. Currently, I’m struggling with watching many loved ones leave home to head to the west coast for work; and I know that I am far from alone in feeling this way. However; the only thing I ever really knew besides the sad feeling of people leaving, was the convincing thought that it was for the best because they were making a great living that they cannot make at home. The idea of friends and family making all this money clouded my judgement greatly; I never really thought into how the oil industry is scarring the land and its people.
So I recently watched a documentary called “To The Last Drop – Canada’s Dirty Oil Sands”. It depicts the damage to the land happening in Alberta and interviews a variety of residents, scientists and doctors. Cree aboriginal people who live in Fort Chipewyan are one of the many populations who have been feeling the effects of the oil sands for years—and it’s only getting worse.
“We are beggaring the future, were not only destroying other cultures and other species but beggaring our own descendants by indulging in this oil fueled binge.”
Fort Chipewyan is located downstream from Athabasca River; which is believed to be polluted from petroleum exposure. Under Canadian and British Imperial law; the treaty stated that the Cree people had the right to hunt and fish northern Alberta. But since then, extensive damage and disruption has taken place that this agreement can no longer be exercised.
“Were in treaty territory, what that means is that if they’re going to do anything with the land they need to ask us. We never sold this land. It was never given up, we never surrendered it; but people still think that they have the right to come in here and do what they want to do”
Allan Adam, Dene Chief, explains how they lived on traditional food when everything was so plentiful. They originally thought they were going to be involved in economic development within the region but now he says enough is enough. He explains that the Cree people have an agreement with the government that the land is theirs to hunt and fish, but what good are all these rights within the treaty if they do not have a place to practice them on?
There also has been increasing amounts of cancer within communities close to the oil fields. Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, biliary tract cancer and the rarely seen soft tissue sarcoma are among the types of which are often being discovered and are thought to be linked to the pollution. So who controls water pollution testing? Well, the minister does. However, the funding is paid for by the oil companies who just happen to own the confidential findings.
“Kill the river then where will we turn to?” -Francois Poulette
Francois Poulette, hereditary Dene Chief, stresses the importance that the land ties the people together and the water makes them survive off the land. The pollution is effecting the people of Chipewyan in more way than one. It’s destroying the land and livelihood; its believed to be infecting the population with cancer; and its polluting the youths perceptions on life.
“When you start hearing the kids in the community saying that they hate the way the shovel sounds when it hits the sand because were burying another community member. You can tell what already is being embedded into their heads of the younger generation.” -Allan Adam
I recommend watching the full documentary on YouTube, click here for part one and here for part two.
Two-Eyed Seeing for Health 