The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Chief is ready to pay for an independent study of cancer rates in his community if the government won’t.
According to the Edmonton Journal, Allan Adam says they’ve been lobbying the government for years, but nothing’s been addressed.
A study done by Alberta’s chief medical officer shows bile duct and cervical cancer rates are enough to confirm a cluster exists.
Dr. James Talbot says the government has no plans to determine the cause of the cluster, but that it will help the community reduce risk factors.
The reasons for cervical and lung cancer are known, but less is known about bile duct cancer that usually gets one in 200,000 to 300,000 people across Canada.
Fort Chipewyan has a population of 1,200 where four cases have been confirmed.
