After persistent requests from the local residents for more than twenty years, a study funded by the federal government is set to commence to investigate the impacts of oilsands on the health of individuals in Fort Chipewyan, an Indigenous community situated in northern Alberta. Many community members have long suspected a connection between the occurrence of cancers in Fort Chipewyan and the industrial activities upstream along the Athabasca River.
Located approximately 200 kilometers north of Fort McMurray, Fort Chipewyan is in proximity to Imperial Oil’s Kearl mine, where a significant 5.3-million-liter wastewater spill occurred in 2023, and Suncor Energy’s Fort Hills mine, which is over 90 kilometers away.
The upcoming study will analyze both current and historical health data, observe local disease patterns, and monitor the well-being of individuals and the environment. Additionally, researchers will investigate the impact of environmental changes on the community’s cultural practices and daily life routines.
Ruby Ladouceur, the president of the Fort Chipewyan Métis Nation, emphasized the importance of seeking answers without assigning blame, as conclusive evidence is still lacking regarding the source of health issues in the community.
The study, named Project Monument Hill after a local viewpoint overlooking Fort Chipewyan and Lake Athabasca, was announced by the federal government in August 2024. The study, with a budget of $12 million over ten years, received initial funding in March for its planning and governance phase.
Dr. John O’Connor, a vocal advocate on cancer concerns in Fort Chipewyan since 2006, expressed satisfaction with the study’s initiation but raised concerns about the lengthy ten-year timeline, considering the pressing health issues faced by the community.
Previous reports on cancer in Fort Chipewyan focused on medical records and health trends, overlooking residents who had left the community, including those seeking cancer treatment. Studies in 2009 and 2014 identified elevated cancer rates in Fort Chipewyan and detected industrial contaminants in locally harvested plants and animals.
Dr. James Talbot’s report in 2014 did not find conclusive evidence linking cancers to industrial exposure, attributing the elevated cancer rates to lifestyle factors and limited medical resources. However, the report was criticized by community leaders for not conducting a comprehensive, long-term health study.
The community aims to utilize a combination of western scientific methods and Indigenous knowledge to understand the intricate relationship between environmental conditions, traditional land use, and the overall well-being of its populace. Ladouceur stressed the need to examine the impact of environmental changes on the health of Indigenous communities, focusing on environmental alterations caused by oilsands development.
Community members have long voiced concerns about the lack of publicly available data linking cancer rates in Fort Chipewyan to changes in the environment due to oilsands activities. Davies-Flett highlighted the widespread impact of these issues on every individual in the community, as relayed by elders and community members over the years.