Tag Archives: Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation

Cost of Climate Change, Energy, Indigenous Nations

‘No room for fossil fuel expansion’: Grand Chief Steward Phillip clears the air on pipelines

By Matteo Cimellaro, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Long-time climate advocate and First Nation leader Stewart Phillip is walking back controversial remarks he made on Tuesday.

Canada’s climate advocacy world gasped in unison after Phillip appeared to suggest building out pipeline infrastructure at a news conference. 

Phillip, who is the Grand Chief of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs, was a strong critic of pipelines like Enbridge’s Northern Gateway pipeline and the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion when those projects were under consideration in the early- to mid-2010s. On Tuesday, he said those years were a “different time.” With the uncertainty of the U.S. President Donald Trump, Canada has “no choice” but to reconsider fossil fuel development, Phillip told reporters. 

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Environment, Indigenous Nations

Can Canada juggle biodiversity, conservation, resource projects and Indigenous land rights?

By Natasha Bulowski, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s opening speech at COP15 was interrupted by a group of Indigenous protesters playing drums and singing “Canada is on native land” and “climate leaders don’t build pipelines.”

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Indigenous Nations, Justice

Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation criticizes Alberta government’s approach to border blockade

By Jacob Cardinal, Alberta Native News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

(ANNews) – On February 2, the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Chief and Council released a statement regarding the current U.S-Canadian border blockade in Coutts, Alberta.

“Over the past several days we have watched in dismay as the border blockade at Coutts, Alberta is allowed to continue without intervention from authorities,” said the statement. “The Critical Infrastructure Defense Act (CIDA), which was passed in 2020, was created in response to Indigenous railway blockades protesting pipeline developments on Indigenous territories.”

“This law was used to end Indigenous blockades — so the question that must be asked is why the blockade at Coutts is allowed to continue?”

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Cost of Climate Change, Environment

Alberta’s tailings ponds are growing & Environmental groups want the Feds to intervene  

By Natasha Bulowski, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Environmental groups are calling on the federal government to step in after oilsands tailing ponds grew by 90 million cubic metres in 2020 despite a drop in oil production, according to a report released last week by the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER).

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Energy, Environment, Indigenous Nations

Alberta Removes Oilsands Environmental Monitoring Restrictions

By Jake Cardinal, Alberta Native News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

(ANNews) – The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) has lifted environmental monitoring restrictions for all oil and gas companies in the province. The lifted restrictions allow for Alberta oil and gas to suspend the monitoring of air, water, and wildlife around worksites.

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