Protest of Penn West activity on traditional Lubicon land

Lubicon Lake First Nation leadership is split on support of a group of demonstrators who are threatening to blockade resource operations by Penn West Exploration. “As the elected governing chief and council – recognized as such by the provincial and federal governments - we do not agree with or condone these actions,” said Chief Billy Joe Laboucan, in a news release. However in another news release, this one issued on behalf of long-time Chief Bernard Ominayak, Ominayak supports the action, stating, “We have never signed treaty, ceded our land, nor sold it to anybody. It’s high time that all resource companies operating on Lubicon Lake Nation lands, including Penn West, as well as the provincial and Canadian governments respect that and stop destroying Lubicon land and stealing Lubicon resources.” Leadership issues and disputed elections have Lubicon Lake under third party management by the federal government.