After years of requests from local residents spanning more than two decades, a new study funded by the federal government is set to investigate the health consequences of oilsands operations on individuals in Fort Chipewyan, an Indigenous community in northern 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 significant 5.3-million-litre wastewater spill occurred in 2023, is approximately 140 kilometers away from Fort Chipewyan. In comparison, Suncor Energy’s Fort Hills mine is the nearest project, located more than 90 kilometers from the community.
The comprehensive study will involve analyzing both current and historical health data, investigating local disease trends, and monitoring both residents and the environment. Researchers will also assess the impact of environmental alterations on the community’s culture and daily life routines.
Ruby Ladouceur, the president of the Fort Chipewyan Métis Nation, emphasized the importance of seeking answers without casting blame, stating, “We’re not pointing fingers, we just want answers to what’s going on.” The study, named Project Monument Hill after a local viewpoint overlooking Fort Chipewyan and Lake Athabasca, will integrate western scientific methods with Indigenous knowledge of the land.
The study, which received initial funding for its planning and governance phase in March, is a 10-year, $12-million initiative announced by the federal government in August 2024. The Métis Nation, the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN), and the Mikisew Cree First Nation (MCFN) will oversee the research conducted by third-party experts, with the federal government in an observer role.
Dr. John O’Connor, a vocal advocate raising concerns about cancer in Fort Chipewyan since 2006, expressed satisfaction that the study is finally underway. However, he stressed the need for a more urgent timeline, citing the significant number of cancer cases he has encountered as a physician.
Previous investigations into cancer rates in Fort Chipewyan primarily focused on medical records and health trends, overlooking individuals who had relocated, including those seeking cancer treatments. A past study by the Alberta Cancer Board in 2009 revealed that certain cancers in Fort Chipewyan were 30% higher compared to the rest of Alberta at that time.
In 2014, researchers from the University of Manitoba identified hazardous levels of heavy metals and industrial contaminants in plants and animals crucial for the community. Another report by Dr. James Talbot, the former chief medical officer of health for Alberta, noted elevated instances of bile duct, lung, and cervical cancers between 1992 and 2011, but found no direct link to industrial exposure.
While some reports attempted to explain the elevated cancer rates based on lifestyle factors and limited medical resources, community leaders in Fort Chipewyan criticized these findings, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive and long-term health study. Ladouceur emphasized that the new study aims to explore the impact of environmental changes on Indigenous health, rather than focusing solely on individual behaviors.
Callie Davies-Flett, a special projects adviser with the ACFN, emphasized the lack of easily accessible data regarding the correlation between cancer rates in Fort Chipewyan and the environmental impact of oilsands activities. She stressed the urgent need for further research to address the community’s concerns, echoing sentiments expressed by elders and community members about the pervasive impact of environmental issues on every resident.
