Nature gets reprieve when white lives are affected
Albertans recently had a taste of what it feels like when the government bypasses public consultation regarding industrial development. Passion, anger and disbelief that elected officials would attempt to sell off scenic landscapes to foreign consumers of dirty coal.
After pressure from thousands of Alberta residents, who expressed opposition to coal leases issued by the Alberta government to expand coal mining in the Rocky Mountains, Energy Minister Sonya Savage announced Monday the sale of 11 recently purchased coal leases would be cancelled.
She added that no further leases would be sold on lands that were protected from open-pit mines under a policy the government revoked last May.
“We have listened carefully to the concerns raised in recent days, and thank those who spoke up with passion,” she said in the release.
Well, that was easy. No protests, no highway shutdowns, no arrests. Just everyday Albertans signing online petitions from the comfort of their homes; ranchers lamenting the potential effects to their livelihoods; High River Mayor Craig Snodgrass vehemently declaring foul play via Facebook livestream broadcasts; opposition leaders slamming conservatives for betrayal of trust and celebrities like country musician Corb Lund and acclaimed singer/songwriter k.d. lang speaking out. It took about a week of this kind of pressure, which was enough for the government to back down and pull the plug.
Politicians and other Albertans have stated they have a right to have a say in what happens with “their” resources. Pretty boisterous considering they are First Nations’ resources as well, resources they’ve never been compensated for. If only it was this easy for Indigenous communities to be heard. Because not being consulted on developments in Indigenous territories is the norm. What we saw happen this week was the people asserting their power to stop what will negatively impact them: pollution, destroyed waterways, land erosion. But, it was also an example of white privilege.
Yes, even though First Nations are sovereign nations and are the traditional keepers of their lands, most often their rights are trampled when the rights and interests of white (mainstream) society takes precedence over environmental concerns; usually in favour of economic gain. If an industrial development project is located in a place deemed undeserving of human subsistence/enjoyment, such as the tarsands, far away from the majestic Rocky Mountains, which are mostly utilized by rich, white settlers, then it’s OK. Or so it seems.
Yet, resource extraction, like the tarsands, have grossly affected Indigenous communities along the lands and river systems for decades. The water is contaminated, many Indigenous Peoples no longer hunt or fish there, and even the chief of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nations told me he has put away millions of dollars for the band to relocate as climate refugees in the next 20 years.
But their concerns were ignored from day one, along with countless other Indigenous communities in this country now suffering the aftermath of unsustainable, dirty, greedy, resource development. Because they’re not white. It’s that simple. It’s that bad and unfair.
Anyway, it’s not OK that governments ever go behind the backs of the people who elect them. Premier Jason Kenney’s government did it to cover their butts from fiscal mismanagement and embarrassment from being left desperate and out of pocket due to a failing oil and gas industry. I hear this isn’t the end of the coal mining leases.
What would happen if Albertans, politicians and local celebrities got behind Indigenous peoples fighting to keep their lands, waters and resources protected for now and future generations? Would Indigenous voices finally be heeded? After all, Indigenous, white, Black, yellow — we are all connected.
The waters eventually connect one way or another, along with our lands and air. When we’re standing up for the environment, we’re standing for all of us. Don’t forget that next time you see a protest in the news of Indigenous land defenders. Before you write them off, just think; it could be in your own backyard. And how would you feel?