After persistent requests from local residents spanning more than twenty years, a federally supported investigation is set to analyze the health implications of oilsands on individuals residing in Fort Chipewyan, an Indigenous settlement in the northern region of Alberta. The community, situated over 200 kilometers north of Fort McMurray, has long suspected a connection between cancer cases in Fort Chipewyan and the industrial activities upstream along the Athabasca River.
Notably, Imperial Oil’s Kearl mine, where a substantial 5.3-million-liter wastewater spill occurred in 2023, lies approximately 140 kilometers away from Fort Chipewyan. The closest industrial project, Suncor Energy’s Fort Hills mine, is situated more than 90 kilometers from the community.
The upcoming investigation will involve analyzing existing and historical health records, scrutinizing local disease patterns, and monitoring both residents and the environment. Additionally, researchers will assess how alterations in the environment influence the community’s culture and daily routines.
Ruby Ladouceur, the president of the Fort Chipewyan Métis Nation, emphasized the importance of seeking answers without attributing blame, stating, “We’re not pointing fingers, we just want answers to what’s going on.” The study will be conducted by independent researchers under the oversight of the Métis Nation, the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN), and the Mikisew Cree First Nation (MCFN), with the federal government in an observing capacity.
Dubbed Project Monument Hill, the $12-million, decade-long study was unveiled by the federal government in August 2024, with initial funds allocated in March for the preparatory and governance phase. Ladouceur highlighted that the study’s approach will integrate western scientific methods with Indigenous knowledge of the land to gain a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between environmental conditions, traditional land usage, and the well-being of the community.
Dr. John O’Connor, a vocal advocate who has been drawing attention to cancer concerns in Fort Chipewyan since 2006, expressed satisfaction that the research is finally underway. However, he voiced apprehensions regarding the study’s lengthy ten-year timeline, emphasizing the urgency of expediting the process due to the significant number of affected individuals he has personally encountered as a physician.
Past reports examining cancer occurrences in Fort Chipewyan primarily focused on medical records and health trends, overlooking individuals who had relocated, including those seeking cancer treatment. One such study from the Alberta Cancer Board in 2009 revealed that certain cancers in Fort Chipewyan were 30% more prevalent compared to the rest of Alberta.
In a related development, researchers from the University of Manitoba in 2014 identified heavy metals and industrial contaminants in flora and fauna commonly harvested by Fort Chipewyan residents, warning of potential health hazards posed by elevated concentrations.
Dr. James Talbot’s 2014 report, while acknowledging higher-than-expected instances of specific cancers in Fort Chipewyan from 1992 to 2011, did not establish a direct correlation to industrial exposure. Talbot attributed the elevated cancer rates to factors like limited medical resources, obesity, and smoking habits, concluding that overall cancer rates in Fort Chipewyan were not significantly above expected levels.
Critics in Fort Chipewyan dismissed Talbot’s findings, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive, long-term health study focused on the community. Ladouceur reiterated the importance of the new investigation in assessing the impact of environmental changes on Indigenous health and community well-being, steering away from merely attributing causation to lifestyle factors.
According to Callie Davies-Flett, a special projects adviser with the ACFN, there is a scarcity of publicly available data pertaining to the connection between cancer cases in Fort Chipewyan and the environmental transformations resulting from oilsands development. She stressed the community-wide impact of these issues, as echoed by community members and elders over the years.