| The Lubicon Lake Indian Nation is angry that a Calgary oil and gas company is proceeding with oilsands development within what the nation considers its traditional territory.
The First Nation, located in northeastern Alberta near Peace River, has been fighting for a land claims settlement for decades. Official negotiations between the federal and provincial governments and the First Nation began in 1998, but they’ve been suspended for 15 months because the parties can’t agree on self-government and financial compensation, says Jim Starko, spokesperson for Indian and Northern Affairs.
While talks have been stalled, Calgary-based Deep Well Oil and Gas, along with partner Surge Global Energy, have announced plans to begin oilsands development on provincially granted oil and gas leases on land close to one of the First Nation’s traditional communities, Haig Lake. There are already at least 1,700 wellsites on Lubicon-claimed land, which were drilled by various oil and gas companies, says Kevin Thomas, a land claims negotiator for the Lubicon. Thomas says billions of dollars in resource revenue has been taken out of Lubicon traditional territory over the last few decades. Now Thomas says the Lubicon Lake Indian Nation is bracing for another large wave of development. Deep Well Oil and Gas has announced on its website that there are an estimated 1.5 billion barrels of oil on its oil and gas leases in the Lubicon-claimed area, and they predict a major period of growth in their oilsands project.
Thomas says Lubicon communities are already experiencing respiratory problems and are concerned about water quality due to previous oil and gas development. They’re also worried about continued habitat destruction.
"The attitude is this is just a bunch of people with brown skin and it doesn’t matter what happens to them, but it does," he says.
Thomas criticizes the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board for approving wells individually without looking at the cumulative impact. And he’s unimpressed that the provincial government handed out leases on Lubicon-claimed land. As for the oil and gas companies, he says, "They’re intruding on lands where land claims aren’t settled and proposing major development."
A press release sent out by the First Nation last week states that the provincial government granted oil and gas leases to Deep Well Oil and Gas that overlap a one-mile buffer zone around future reserve land that the provincial government agreed to set aside during land claims negotiations. Mark Cooper, a spokesperson for ministry of justice and the attorney general, says "there was never a buffer zone discussed where the company wants to drill."
"I would be very surprised if there was an oil and gas company that would infringe on what has been discussed as a Lubicon reserve," he says.
Cooper adds that as far as the government is concerned, the oil and gas companies have made "real, legitimate efforts to consult with the Lubicon."
Thomas says no Deep Well Oil and Gas company official has been in touch with the First Nation on proposed development plans. Deep Well released a media statement that says field activity "is more than two miles distant from any lands, including any buffer zones, that have been set aside for the Lubicon Lake Indigenous People." The company points out that the land their leases are on is owned by the province.
"Corporate officers of Deep Well Oil and Gas, Inc. have stated that they have and will continue to adhere to all laws, rules and regulations, including environmental considerations, respecting the legal rights of all First Nations People," states the press release. |
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