Last First Nation withdraws from Joint Oil Sands Monitoring program

The last First Nation band involved in the Canada-Alberta Joint Oil Sands Monitoring program has officially pulled out. Fort McMurray First Nation Chief Ron Kreutzer says it was a difficult decision, but that the First Nation felt excluded and frustrated. Past members include the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, Mikisew Cree First Nation, the Fort McKay First Nation, and the Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation. The monitoring program was originally composed of First Nations, environmental monitoring groups, industry, and the top two levels of government. In an email from Jesse Cardinal, member of the Keepers of the Athabasca, she stated, “The ‘world class monoriting system’ is turning out to be another breakdown in government to government relations...The First Nations must be heard and included. The baselines they know and have, really are about sustainability.”