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ACFN's alleged "oil spill" turns out to be algae

The supposed oil spill in the Athabasca River that had a local first nation up in arms wasn’t an oil spill at all.

The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation is now admitting that the so-called oily sheen on the river is most likely just dead blue-green algae.

The First Nation had repeatedly called it a petrochemical spill, despite there being no proof of it being oil.

Chief Allan Adam had also called the so-called spill a “toxic threat” despite only having seen it from an airplane.

All along, the province had insisted that it was likely natural.

The algae was likely caused by river run-off followed by the recent wave of high temperatures.

In its latest media release, the First Nation attempts to blame global warming for the algae bloom.

July 11, 2013