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MacMurray Metis Promise CNRL Will Have Difficult Development Without Further Discussion

The MacMurray Metis have promised that CNRL energy company will have a difficult time developing local areas unless the energy company is willing to discuss the development with the group. According to Kyle Harrietha, the McMurray Métis general manager, “To both industry and government, I’ll say the following: it is crystal clear that there is a duty to consult and accommodate with Métis communities. I can only speak for McMurray Métis when I say that those in industry and government who refuse to acknowledge and honour those facts that the relationship with us will always be difficult,. I can assure you that you will eventually be forced to do so through litigation.” Harrietha spoke at the Métis Rights & Economic Development Symposium, a two day event held at the Sawridge Inn & Conference Centre in Fort MacMurray.

CNRL has received approval to start test drilling and energy exploration in a number of spots close to Gregoire Lake Provincial Park. The MacMurray Metis were never given an opportunity to discuss the new test drilling and exploration or to challenge the project. According to Kyle Harrietha stated “In all recent interactions, they’ve been addressing the Métis and First Nations through lawyers. That’s always a bad sign. Our organization has almost always been able to work out settlements from industry. This is what it looks like and sounds like when a relationship goes the other way.”Harrietha also discussed the freshwater aquifer benzine leak that CNRL was responsible for in 2014, slamming the company on safety and environmental protection.

An application from CNRL to begin exploring the region near Gregoire Lake has been approved, in spite of the fact that the MacMurray Metis have appealed and requested a hearing on the matter. In September of 2014 CNRL requested permission to engage in exploration close to Gregoire Lake Provincial Park and Anzac in an attempt to locate bitumen deposits. The area in question is culturally significant according to the MacMurray Metis, which lead to the appeal and hearing request. On February 26 a letter was sent from the AER to local stating that a hearing is not required and that the company has already met the prererquisite notifications required. AER acting director for land use authorizations Tara Hosick wrote in the letter “The application area is within the boundary of the Lower Athabasca Regional Plan (LARP), which addresses acceptable land disturbance standards in relation to wildlife and management of cumulative impacts on a regional basis. The subject exploration activities are permitted under LARP. CNRL has met all applicable notification requirements for the application.”

According to the MacMurray Metis claim an argument was made that ample evidence supported both the Metis traditional land use and the fact that the area was still a location for harvesting. The Metis also question whether CNRL can be responsible in their operations in the area. Kyle Harrietha, general manager for the MacMurray Metis, said “We provided a lot more info than what was indicated in their letter of response.‘ The only thing in a death spiral right now is CNRL’s reputation among aboriginal organizations in northeastern Alberta. We have very little confidence in CNRL’s ability to operate responsibly. They’ve demonstrated time and time again that they play fast and loose with the environment and that was demonstrated with their problems at Primrose and contamination of the groundwater aquifer at Wolf Lake.”