After numerous requests from residents spanning more than twenty years, a study funded by the federal government is set to investigate the health effects of oilsands on the inhabitants of Fort Chipewyan, an Indigenous community in northern Alberta. Many individuals in the community, situated over 200 kilometers north of Fort McMurray, have long suspected a connection between cancer cases in Fort Chipewyan and the industrial activities upstream along the Athabasca River.
The Kearl mine operated by Imperial Oil, where a significant wastewater spill of 5.3 million liters occurred in 2023, is approximately 140 kilometers away from Fort Chipewyan. The closest project is Suncor Energy’s Fort Hills mine, which is over 90 kilometers distant.
The upcoming study will analyze both current and historical health data, investigate local disease trends, and monitor both the residents and the environment. Additionally, researchers will evaluate how environmental shifts impact the community’s culture and daily routines.
Ruby Ladouceur, president of the Fort Chipewyan Métis Nation, emphasized the need for answers regarding the situation without attributing blame prematurely to industrial activities due to the lack of concrete evidence.
The study, named Project Monument Hill after a local viewpoint overlooking Fort Chipewyan and Lake Athabasca, will span a ten-year period and has a budget of $12 million. Third-party researchers will conduct the study under the supervision of the Métis Nation, the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN), and the Mikisew Cree First Nation (MCFN), with the federal government playing an oversight role.
Dr. John O’Connor, a vocal advocate who has raised concerns about cancer in Fort Chipewyan since 2006, expressed satisfaction that the study is finally underway, though he believes the ten-year timeline may be too lengthy.
Previous reports on cancer in Fort Chipewyan have mainly focused on medical records and health trends, overlooking individuals who left the community, including those seeking cancer treatments. Studies have revealed elevated instances of certain cancers compared to the rest of Alberta, along with evidence of harmful substances in local plants and animals.
The new study aims to explore how environmental alterations have impacted the health of Indigenous populations and the community, moving beyond lifestyle factors as potential variables. Limited publicly available data exists on the correlation between cancer in Fort Chipewyan and the changes in the environment caused by oilsands operations, according to Callie Davies-Flett of the ACFN.