FIRST NATIONS

Oil spill hits Lubicon Cree First Nations hard

by Michelle Winter

On April 29, 28,000 barrels of oil spilled out of the corroded “Rainbow Pipeline” in northern Alberta, near Little Buffalo.

On April 30, a press release stated it was a small spill but media were prohibited from flying over to take pictures.

Four days later—after the federal election—Alberta’s Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) announced a major spill had occurred.

It is the worst spill in Alberta since 1975 when 6.5 million litres were spilled. Industry and government keep telling us that oil spills are not that common.

In fact, a 2007 report from the Alberta Energy Utilities Board shows almost 5,000 spills between 1990 and 2005—in Alberta alone.

The spill has had serious impact on the Lubicon Cree First Nation.

The school in Little Buffalo remains shut as children and community members continue to experience illness.

There is still no explanation from the Provincial regulator—the ERCB—and have yet to meet with the community.

Amnesty International has stepped in to publicize the Lubicon’s call for: the ERCB to meet with the Lubicon community to effectively answer community members’ questions; an independent environmental assessment that reports to the community; a health response team that is stationed in the Lubicon community to respond immediately to those who continue to get sick, especially children.

We must unite and stand up to the Harper government if we want an end to forest fires, floods and oil spills.