First Nations take oilsands concerns to U. K.

By Hanneke Brooymans
Edmonton Journal
August 28, 2009

Three First Nations people from northern Alberta are in London, protesting the involvement of United Kingdom companies in oilsands development.

Residents of Fort Chipewyan are especially concerned about some types of cancer in their communities.

"Because of the people in my community dying and being sick, that's not motivation, that's an obligation on my behalf to go out and spread the word," said Lionel Lepine, a 31-year-old member of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation.

"At first, it started as a provincial-awareness type of thing. Then we got the awareness spread right across Canada. And now we're taking this awareness international."

Lepine is accompanied by George Poitras, of the Mikisew Cree First Nation, and Eriel Tchekwie Deranger, also of the Athabasca Chipewyan.

All five will be attending the climate action camp taking place on a patch of common land in London called Blackheath. This location has a history of protest and dissent that dates back to the 14th century, said Jess Worth, a United Kingdom communications organizer for activist groups.

About 1,500 people from around the U. K. will camp there from Aug. 27 to Sept. 2, holding workshops on topics such as climate science, carbon trading, and activist tactics.

"We decided to camp in London because we want to make the links between the economic crisis and the climate crisis, and we believe both are being driven by the banks and the corporations and the government, which have their headquarters in London," Worth said.

People in the U. K. don't know anything about the oilsands, even though they're one of the most destructive projects in the world, she said.

"So if we're going to try to end investment in the tarsands, we can't just work in Canada, we've got to work in the U. K as well."

Worth said that means putting pressure on oil companies such as BP and the Royal Bank of Scotland.

"The tarsands are happening in Canada but they're very much being driven in London."

The Canadian delegation is trying to raise awareness about the oilsands, the scale of the project and the climate implications, and it should start getting action taken against the companies involved, Worth said.

BP Canada declined to comment, directing a request to their London office, which could not be reached.

Poitras said there are a lot of foreign companies involved in oilsands development. "I think the fact we do come to these countries and raise awareness, informs people about the issues and concerns that are not readily made available by the governments of Alberta or Canada in their promotion of the tarsands internationally," he said.

The Canada West Foundation, which tracks the message going out about oilsands development in traditional and Internet media, noted that environmental coverage of the oilsands in July was overwhelmingly negative.

hbrooymans@thejournal.canwest.com.

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