Review panel’s report of LARP validates First Nations’ concerns

February 3, 2016

A review committee appointed by the former provincial government to examine the Lower Athabasca Regional Plan upheld concerns raised by First Nations.

But what Eriel Deranger, spokesperson for the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, does not understand is why the NDP government sat on the results for six months – especially considering LARP was enacted by the Progressive Conservative government.

“I think instead of the government being scared and worried about what this means this is an opportunity, not a challenge. This presents real opportunity for us to move forward in a meaningful way with government to work together to find creative solutions to address the economic downfall that’s currently happening … and coming up with a diversification plan that works for everybody,” said Deranger.

ACFN received a copy of the review panel’s report in early January with an email from the provincial government stating the report was being shared “in transparency,” said Deranger. However, the government has had the final report since July 2015.

The Prentice government was forced to appoint a panel to review LARP as ACFN, joined by five other First Nations in the region, requested the statutory review. All the impacted First Nations held that the government had not listened to their concerns or accepted any of their recommendations during the creation of LARP. Once the plan was put in place, the First Nations continued to voice their disapproval.

“The Lower Athabasca Regional Plan does nothing to protect Aboriginal and treaty rights and the process to develop the Lower Athabasca Regional Plan did nothing to meaningfully address the rights either,” said Deranger.  “And in fact, the plan itself created damage and erosion to treaty and Aboriginal rights.”

The review panel agreed.

The review panel also agreed with claims by First Nations that projects needed to be examined by looking at cumulative impacts and not on a project-by-project basis.

“(The report) validates a lot of the concerns the ACFN has raised over the years regarding mismanagement of projects and resource development in the region,” said Deranger.

She added that ACFN’s concerns go beyond the oil and gas industry to include forestry projects and proposed uranium mining.

“This is about the preservation and protection of treaty and Aboriginal rights and title lands and territories, and the longevity and the survival of the culture of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nations people,” said Deranger.

LARP came into force in 2012. Between that time and the panel carrying out its review, a number of projects were approved for the region. 

“That for us is a huge, huge concern because now the government has the responsibility, I think, at this point, to figure out what is the recourse for addressing the fact that there are projects in Alberta that have been approved … utilizing … legislation (that) is in clear violation of Aboriginal and treaty rights,” said Deranger.

Action is needed, she says, pointing out that not only has Premier Rachel Notley said her government wants a renewed relationship with Indigenous peoples, but global commitments on climate change to reduce emissions, as agreed to in Paris, mean moving away from oil and gas development.

Deranger stresses that ACFN is not opposed to economic development.

“We, of course, want to see … sustainable development that is in line with the protection and preservation of our lands and territories,” she said.