After numerous requests from community members spanning over two decades, a federally funded investigation is set to commence to assess the health impacts of the oilsands on residents in Fort Chipewyan, an Indigenous community in northern Alberta. Many residents in the community, situated over 200 kilometers north of Fort McMurray, have long suspected a connection between cancers in Fort Chipewyan and the industrial activities upstream along the Athabasca River.
Among the industrial installations in proximity to Fort Chipewyan are Imperial Oil’s Kearl mine, which experienced a significant 5.3-million-liter wastewater spill in 2023, located approximately 140 kilometers away, and Suncor Energy’s Fort Hills mine, situated over 90 kilometers from the community. The study will delve into current and past health data, analyze local disease trends, and monitor both individuals and the environment. It will also investigate how environmental modifications affect the community’s culture and daily life.
The initiative, named Project Monument Hill after a local vantage point overlooking Fort Chipewyan and Lake Athabasca, is a 10-year, $12-million endeavor announced by the federal government in August 2024. The study will merge western scientific methods with Indigenous land knowledge to gain insights into the relationship between environmental conditions, traditional land usage, and the well-being of the community.
The investigation will be conducted by independent researchers under the supervision of the Métis Nation, the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN), and the Mikisew Cree First Nation (MCFN), with the federal government in an observer role. Ruby Ladouceur, the president of the Fort Chipewyan Métis Nation, emphasized the community’s desire for clarity on the situation without assigning blame prematurely.
Dr. John O’Connor, a vocal advocate on cancer concerns in Fort Chipewyan since 2006, expressed satisfaction at the study’s initiation but raised concerns about the lengthy 10-year timeline. Previous reports on cancer in Fort Chipewyan primarily analyzed medical records and health trends of current residents, neglecting individuals who had left the community, including those seeking cancer treatments, as highlighted by Callie Davies-Flett, a special projects adviser with the ACFN.
Studies in 2009 and 2014 revealed elevated cancer rates in Fort Chipewyan compared to the rest of Alberta, along with the presence of heavy metals and industrial pollutants in local flora and fauna. Despite previous reports downplaying direct links between cancers and industrial exposure, the community leaders stressed the need for a comprehensive, long-term health study rather than a statistical analysis.
The new investigation aims to explore the impact of environmental alterations on Indigenous health and community well-being, moving away from attributing health issues solely to lifestyle factors. Limited publicly available data exists on the correlation between cancer rates in Fort Chipewyan and the environmental changes brought about by oilsands operations, highlighting the urgency and importance of the forthcoming study.
