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CTV News
6 hours ago
- Health
- CTV News
Piikani members pray for healing of Crowsnest Lake amid fish consumption advisory
A fish consumption advisory remains in effect for Crowsnest Lake. The Alberta government says this is due to selenium levels from old coal mines. Members of the Piikani Nation gathered at Crowsnest Lake in southwestern Alberta on Tuesday to pray for the body of water to heal following the issuing of a Fish Consumption Advisory. The advisory, posted to the My Wild Alberta website, says 105 fish from Crowsnest Lake were analyzed for mercury and trace metals in 2024, and a preliminary assessment of the results indicated consumption of brown trout, lake trout and mountain whitefish 'should be limited' due to selenium levels. 'The public should consider limiting consumption of these fish species from Crowsnest Lake at this time,' says the site. 'Further investigation is ongoing.' Speaking to CTV News on Tuesday, Piikani Nation member Harley Bastien said water is described as the 'veins and blood' of mother earth by Indigenous people. 'We are water,' Bastien said. 'Our bodies are water, and we are just trying to protect our bodies – not only for ourselves, but for seven generations ahead.' A new study from Alberta government scientist suggests old coal mines on the eastern slopes of the Rockies are leaching chemicals that are poisoning fish downstream. It also suggests any new coal developments could result in 'population collapse' of fish species in a nearby lake. 'We called on the water spirits that live in the water,' Bastien said. 'We prayed through them, we communicate with them, and in turn, they have they're own ways of communicating.' The new study measured selenium levels in fish from Crowsnest Lake, which is fed by creeks connected to Tent Mountain and Grassy Mountain – both former coal mine sites. In a statement, Evolve Power -- formerly Montem -- which owns Tent Mountain, said it is 'in compliance with all applicable provincial and federal regulatory requirements including those prescribed in the environmental protection and enhancement act approval. 'The Crowsnest River Valley contains multiple towns and is a major transportation corridor with significant agricultural and industrial activity, including quarrying by others, all of which may contribute to selenium levels being above naturally occurring levels.' Northback says the Crowsnest Lake issues are unrelated to its Grassy Mountain project. The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) said in a statement to CTV News, 'If selenium is flagged as a concern through sampling, inspections, or an EPA notification, the AER can order the licensee to increase monitoring, control or halt water discharges, and implement a mitigation plan. 'Throughout a mine's entire life cycle, operators must demonstrate that any treated water they release meets the stringent limits set by both provincial and federal standards.' Landowners on the Eastern Slopes say if selenium is found in former mine sites, new exploration is only going to repeat itself. 'The government knew this and yet in all of their communications they've indicated there is little or no concern about selenium contamination from open pit coal mining,' said Mike Judd, who owns land near Beaver Mines. The AER told The Canadian Press that it has directed Evolve Power to submit a 'selenium management plan proposal' that targets reductions in selenium in mine-affected water. Evolve was to submit that plan by July 31 of last year, but the AER said it granted the company an extension to March 31, 2026. Those at the prayer ceremony say that's unacceptable. 'Water is everything to the Indigenous people,' said Bastien. CTV News reached out multiple times to the office of the minister of environment and protected areas for an interview but never received a response. - With files from Canadian Press
Calgary Herald
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
City of Calgary signs deal for closer ties with Blackfoot Confederacy
The City of Calgary on Friday signed an agreement with a group of Indigenous organizations deemed to be the first of its kind, although doubts about whether the terms in the document would be respected linger among First Nations members. Article content Article content The Memorandum of Understanding on Communication and Co-operation between the city and the Blackfoot Confederacy will determine how the two governing bodies engage with one another and strengthen their relationship. Article content Article content The document includes 10 non-binding agreements, such as wishing to learn about one another and identifying opportunities for collaboration; establishing a productive working relationship based on areas of mutual benefit; and affirming mutual respect and collaboration to promote environmental sustainability. Article content Article content The event, which was attended by the chiefs of several communities, including Piikani and Siksika First Nations, began with a privately held pipe ceremony, a sacred Indigenous tradition in which participants vow to be truthful and respectful while following the agreements made at the time of the meeting. Article content 'We are on a journey with nation partners to understand how we best enter into relationships,' Mayor Jyoti Gondek told reporters. Article content 'And being able to do this memorandum of understanding today and to sit in ceremony before that is a really important way for us to engage with Indigenous partners and to understand what partnership actually looks like.' Article content Article content Piikani Nation Chief Troy Knowlton said to 'recognize that this land is Siksikaitsitapi — Blackfoot — that's an honour.' Article content 'Time will tell' if agreement will be respected, chief says Article content However, he was quick to point out his disappointment with how a memorandum between Indigenous organizations and Alberta was purportedly breached following legislation proposed by the UCP government that, among other things, makes it easier for a referendum to leave Canada to appear as a ballot question. Article content 'It tells us that the MOU is not being honoured and that it's not being respected,' Knowlton said. 'And I made comments to the City of Calgary, the time will tell if this MOU has something that's going to be respected by the city.' Article content He added he hopes the agreement leads to partnerships in several industries that will yield economic benefits for his community members, starting with tourism. Article content 'Tourism is one of the biggest parts of the economic drivers of this province,' Knowlton said. 'One of the problems I see with the Indigenous Tourism Association, they're all led by Metis. Article content 'They don't look like me. So when you're looking at the Indigenous Tourism of Alberta that's led by people who look Caucasian, who want to cash in on the Metis type of self-identification, that doesn't help us a whole lot.'
National Observer
08-05-2025
- Politics
- National Observer
First Nations take Alberta premier to task over separatist rhetoric
First Nations leaders say a silver lining to the 'rhetoric and insanity' brought about by talks of Alberta separatism has united Indigenous communities 'all across Canada, from coast to coast to coast.' Piikani Nation Chief Troy Knowlton said Alberta First Nations are gearing up for a fight with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. 'We're not going anywhere and if you feel that you have problems with First Nations, you could leave,' Knowlton said. Smith said this week she doesn't want Alberta to leave Canada but promised to hold a referendum on provincial separation in 2026 if citizens gather the required signatures on a petition. Smith's government also recently tabled legislation to make it easier for citizens to trigger a provincial referendum, lowering the required signatures from 20 per cent of registered voters to 10 per cent and granting an extra month to collect signatures. The backlash from First Nations leaders was swift — they pointed out Alberta is on Treaty 6, 7 and 8 land, and those treaty agreements are with the federal government, not the province. 'This is treaty country, and any talk of separation is really insanity,' Knowlton said at an emergency meeting convened by First Nations leaders on May 6 in Edmonton. 'If Alberta wants to separate, and doesn't want to be part of Canada, then you're not allowed on our traditional territories anymore for exploration, because we don't know who you're exploring for,'said ACFN Chief Allan Adam The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, which represents 74 First Nations in Saskatchewan, said Smith's proposal to lower signature thresholds for citizen-initiated referendums — which could more easily lead to a vote on separation — fundamentally ignores the nation-to-nation treaties signed between First Nations and the Crown. This was echoed by other leaders, including Mikisew Cree First Nation Chief Billy-Joe Tuccaro and Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Chief Allan Adam, who said any move in that direction would have immediate consequences for development in the province. 'If Alberta wants to separate, and doesn't want to be part of Canada, then you're not allowed on our traditional territories anymore for exploration, because we don't know who you're exploring for,' Adam said. In response to questions about a separation referendum's impact on treaty rights, Smith said she will have to wait until a citizen referendum proceeds to make any judgments about treaty rights. The ambiguity of her response did not quell concerns. 'Whether or not this rhetoric is real, you're upsetting a relationship that has been years in the making,' Gabrielle Slowey, a political science professor at York University, told Canada's National Observer in a phone interview. 'Historically, Alberta technically had a fairly good relationship with Indigenous groups compared to other regions in Canada. So, for the premier to be doing this … I'm not sure I see the value or the logic in it.' Slowey is surprised the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers and resource extraction companies aren't intervening because Smith is potentially triggering the sort of instability that markets hate, after years of building agreements with communities to create a stable investment environment. 'Alberta's worked really hard, and Danielle Smith's threats are undoing all of that,' Slowey said. Adam's call for no more resource exploration amidst talk of separation is exhibit A. 'That's gonna send a shiver and a chill that people don't need, not at this time when we're supposed to be building all these nationalist projects,' Slowey said. The resounding message from First Nations leaders this week is that they are gearing up for a fight. 'For the last 50 years, we've been in defense of our rights, of our land, our jurisdiction, our identity,' Knowlton said. 'We're very prepared. Today, every one of the First Nations you see here, we've got doctors, we've got lawyers, we've got judges, we've got Crown prosecutors. We're ready. We're ready for a fight. We've got resources that we can either share or utilize ourselves for any litigation moving forward and any challenges we're going to have.' This issue of separation referendums and treaty rights has played out before, when Quebec held its 1995 referendum, Slowey noted. To highlight their opposition to Quebec secession, the Grand Council of the Crees of Quebec held a separate referendum at the time to underscore their long-standing opposition to Quebec separating from Canada. Cree voters were asked: "Do you consent, as a people, that the Government of Quebec separate the James Bay Crees and Cree traditional territory from Canada in the event of a Yes vote in the Quebec referendum?" An overwhelming 96.3 per cent — with 77 per cent voter turnout — voted to stay with Canada. The Inuit of Northern Quebec held a similar referendum with 96 per cent of voters opposing Quebec's secession. Now, in 2025, First Nations leaders in Alberta are hammering home the same message. Tuccaro, Mikisew Cree First Nation Chief, had some words specifically for Smith: 'You will not do what you want without the approval of the treaty people. You talk about a reset with Canada. You must reset with the Indigenous Peoples from Turtle Island.'
Epoch Times
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Pro-Separation Albertans Hold Rally, Say Things Won't Change Under Confederation
EDMONTON—Katheryn Speck said she used to be a Canadian nationalist, travelled the world with a maple leaf on her backpack and once lived in Quebec so she could become fluently bilingual. But on Saturday she was among hundreds of people who rallied at the Alberta legislature to support separation from Canada, with many in the crowd waving Alberta flags and a few even displaying the U.S. Stars and Stripes. 'I thought it was a beautiful, fantastic country. But now I'm so disappointed. I'm literally crushed that we'll never be represented in this country and there's never a chance of changing the government,' Speck said. Earlier this week, Premier Danielle Smith's government proposed legislation that would lower the bar for holding a referendum. While Smith told reporters she won't presuppose what questions Albertans might bring to a ballot, the move would make it easier for citizens to call for a vote to secede from Canada. The federal Liberals' election win Monday has also prompted some people in the province to demand an exit. Speck said the National Energy Policy of the 1980s eroded her Canadian pride. Now a decade of Liberal policies that she said have blocked pipelines and stymied the province's energy industry have her thinking there's no fix under Confederation. Related Stories 4/13/2025 11/4/2019 'Once the votes are counted in Ontario, the election is over. We don't matter. We never matter,' she said. Hannah Henze, a 17-year-old who attended Saturday's rally, said she might have felt differently about separation if the Conservatives had won. 'If (Pierre) Poilievre was in, I feel we'd have a lot more hope than a third or fourth Liberal term, which is just going to ruin our country,' Henze said. Leo Jensen, meanwhile, said Canadians are worried about losing auto manufacturing jobs due to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs, but they don't seem concerned about protecting jobs in Alberta's oil and gas sector. 'I don't see how a province like Quebec takes all of our dirty money, but they won't let a dirty pipeline go through Quebec to aid an oil refinery in New Brunswick,' Jensen said. A few dozen counter-protesters attempted to drown out the rally, many holding signs saying that separation would violate treaties with First Nations. Piikani Nation Chief Troy Knowlton said in a letter earlier this week that it's understandable many in the West are frustrated their rejection of the federal Liberal party in the election didn't play out elsewhere. But he said Alberta doesn't have the authority to interfere with or negate treaties. On her provincewide radio call-in show on Saturday, the premier said she fully respects treaty rights. 'Everything I do is changing Alberta's relationship with Ottawa. First Nations have their own relationship with Ottawa and that's enshrined in treaty. That does not change,' Smith said. In March, Smith threatened a 'national unity crisis' if the next prime minister doesn't acquiesce to a list of her demands within six months, but reiterated this week that she supports a sovereign Alberta within a united Canada. Rally attendee Susan Westernaier said she believed everything would be better if Alberta separated. 'We have the oil, we have the resources. We're fine,' Westernaier said, noting she believed Monday's election was rigged.
Vancouver Sun
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
Albertans disillusioned with Confederation rally for separation in Edmonton
Article content Katheryn Speck said she used to be a Canadian nationalist, travelled the world with a maple leaf on her backpack and once lived in Quebec so she could become fluently bilingual. Article content Article content But on Saturday, she was among hundreds of people who rallied at the Alberta legislature to support separation from Canada, with many in the crowd waving Alberta flags and a few even displaying the U.S. Stars and Stripes. Article content Article content 'I thought it was a beautiful, fantastic country. But now I'm so disappointed. I'm literally crushed that we'll never be represented in this country and there's never a chance of changing the government,' Speck said. Article content Article content Earlier this week, Premier Danielle Smith's government proposed legislation that would lower the bar for holding a referendum. While Smith told reporters she won't presuppose what questions Albertans might bring to a ballot, the move would make it easier for citizens to call for a vote to secede from Canada. Article content The federal Liberals' election win Monday has also prompted some people in the province to demand an exit. Article content Speck said the National Energy Policy of the 1980s eroded her Canadian pride. Now, a decade of Liberal policies that she said have blocked pipelines and stymied the province's energy industry have her thinking there's no fix under Confederation. Article content Article content 'Once the votes are counted in Ontario, the election is over. We don't matter. We never matter,' she said. Article content Article content Hannah Henze, a 17-year-old who attended Saturday's rally, said she might have felt differently about separation if the Conservatives had won. Article content 'If (Pierre) Poilievre was in, I feel we'd have a lot more hope than a third or fourth Liberal term, which is just going to ruin our country,' Henze said. Article content Leo Jensen, meanwhile, said Canadians are worried about losing auto manufacturing jobs due to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs, but they don't seem concerned about protecting jobs in Alberta's oil and gas sector. Article content 'I don't see how a province like Quebec takes all of our dirty money, but they won't let a dirty pipeline go through Quebec to aid an oil refinery in New Brunswick,' Jensen said. Article content A few dozen counter-protesters attempted to drown out the rally, many holding signs saying that separation would violate treaties with First Nations. Article content Article content Piikani Nation Chief Troy Knowlton said in a letter earlier this week that it's understandable many in the West are frustrated their rejection of the federal Liberal party in the election didn't play out elsewhere. But he said Alberta doesn't have the authority to interfere with or negate treaties.
