After numerous requests from local residents spanning more than 20 years, a federally funded investigation is set to commence to assess the health impacts of the oilsands on individuals in Fort Chipewyan, an Indigenous community in northern Alberta. Many 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.
Imperial Oil’s Kearl mine, where a significant wastewater spill occurred in 2023, is approximately 140 kilometers away from Fort Chipewyan. The nearest project, Suncor Energy’s Fort Hills mine, is over 90 kilometers distant from the community. Researchers will analyze current and past health data, investigate local disease patterns, and monitor both the people and the surrounding environment. They will also assess how environmental alterations impact the community’s culture and daily routines.
Ruby Ladouceur, the president of the Fort Chipewyan Métis Nation, emphasized the need for answers regarding the situation without assigning blame prematurely, stating, “We’re not pointing fingers, we just want answers to what’s going on.” The study, named Project Monument Hill, will be conducted by independent researchers 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 overseeing role.
The 10-year, $12 million study, announced by the federal government in August 2024, received initial funding in March for the planning and governance phase. Ladouceur highlighted that the study will integrate both western scientific methods and Indigenous knowledge of the land to comprehensively comprehend the relationship between environmental conditions, traditional land use, and the well-being of the community.
Dr. John O’Connor, who has been vocal about cancer concerns in Fort Chipewyan since 2006, expressed satisfaction that the study is underway but raised concerns about the lengthy 10-year timeframe, calling for a more urgent approach due to the alarming number of cases he has managed personally.
Past reports on cancer in Fort Chipewyan focused on medical records and health trends of residents, with individuals who had relocated or sought cancer treatment elsewhere not being accounted for. Previous studies have indicated elevated cancer rates in Fort Chipewyan compared to the rest of Alberta, with evidence of heavy metals and industrial contaminants found in local flora and fauna. Criticism of prior reports led to calls for a more detailed, long-term community health study, which the current investigation aims to address.
Community leaders stress the necessity of evaluating how environmental changes resulting from oilsands operations have affected Indigenous health, emphasizing the need to move beyond simplistic explanations like lifestyle factors. Limited publicly available data exists regarding the link between cancer rates in Fort Chipewyan and environmental modifications caused by oilsands developments, underscoring the urgency and significance of the ongoing study.