First Nations’ environment stewardship role shouldn’t be ignored

The Husky oil spill in the Maidstone area has become an environmental and jurisdictional issue for the First Nations and it could spark change in our relationship with the province.

At least four First Nations are directly affected and several others indirectly. Downriver from the spill is my reserve, Little Pine, with about a mile of river frontage north of Paynton.

Further downstream, Sweetgrass has TLE land, and past Prince Albert the Saskatchewan River flows directly through the James Smith and Cumberland House First Nations.

According to Husky Energy Ltd., between 200,000 litres and 250,000 litres of heavy crude oil was spilled into the river. To put this in perspective, a single highway transport oil tanker holds about 30,000 litres of oil, so the spill is equivalent to eight tanker trucks being dumped in the river.

My chief and several First Nations leaders wanted to get more information but were denied access to the area around the Paynton Ferry. So they drove directly to the site of the spill north of the village of Waseca, where they simply waved at a security guard and signed in.

They reported that the pipeline break was above a steep bank to the river.

While there was a considerable amount reported to have flowed down the bank into the river, a similar amount appears to be soaked into the ground beside the pipeline.

They also pointed out that the river is currently in flood and about a metre higher than normal.

Therefore the oil is accumulating inland in the trees and above the normal shoreline. This means that as the river returns to its original level, the oil will be stuck on the riverbank and subject to leaching into the river when it rains or during freeze up. This will make the spill harder to clean up, and its effects will be felt longer.

FSIN and the chiefs are also concerned that they have been left out of any discussions with the province, Husky Energy and local governments.

FSIN holds the position that First Nations have resource rights subject to the treaties and the commitment to share the land and its resources. This includes environmental protection as well as resource harvesting rights.

Historically the Saskatchewan River played an important role as the eastern gateway to the Great Plains.

Prior to European contact the eastern wooded part of the river from about Prince Albert to the east was the southern border of the Dene Nation. To the west, the Northern Shoshone lived in the area north of the river known as the Snake Plains.

The Cree later occupied the territory, and the First Nations that lived along the banks were known as the River Cree or the upstream people. This explains why the Enoch First Nation west of Edmonton named its casino and hotel after the River Cree.

The river valley is also a rich ecosystem where our people pick berries and medicines, and it has been a valuable natural resource for generations.

About 150 years ago, when our leaders signed Treaty 6, they included most of the Saskatchewan River valley in the agreement. They were told at the time that we could continue to pursue our way of life and continue to hunt and gather throughout our traditional territories.

In 1930 the federal government transferred ownership of natural resources to the provinces with no mention about the role of First Nations and the treaties, except to point out that First Nations had outstanding treaty land entitlements and the provinces would be asked to make land available.

FSIN’s position that we have a role to play is perfectly valid. First Nations have an important role in the environmental stewardship of the province and its waterways.

However, we are constantly shoved to the sidelines and the strength of our treaties and our commitment is ignored.

It should be pointed out that our people are not against economic development.

Many First Nations people work in the oil patch, and First Nations in western Saskatchewan have oil resources or have selected TLE land with oil and gas potential.

The discussion should centre on environmental stewardship and the shared jurisdiction that First Nations people have within our treaty territories.