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ACFN Chief calls for action to address climate change

Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation listens as Archbishop Desmond Tutu speaks during a press conference in Fort McMurray, Alta. on Friday May 30, 2014. Adam says ongoing concerns about coerced sterilization of Indigenous women is nothing short of a "crisis" and he wants to see a public inquiry into the allegations. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

A local First Nations Chief is calling for action to address climate change.

Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Chief Allan Adam made the comment on Jan. 7 after an employee went through the ice on his Skidoo.

Adam said in a statement quick thinking and ice safety training saved the man’s life.

“This however shows once again the dangers of unchecked development and runaway climate change.  It is January 7 and minus thirty degrees in Northern Alberta and yet the ice is still too thin to travel on.  And this was just a skidoo, not even a car or truck.”

Indigenous communities in the Peace Athabasca Delta have long warned about low water levels and unknown substances being emitted into the water by industry and unpredictable weather patterns from climate change.

According to the statement, water levels that have been stable for thousands of years are now dropping due to industry, municipalities, forestry and agriculture all drawing on water systems.

“We have been warning governments about this for a long time,” said Adam.  “We were in court just last month for Kenney’s challenge of the Federal Carbon Tax telling Alberta that this is exactly the sort of thing that would happen. These results are predictable.  So why do they refuse to act?”

Chief Adam added that the impacts are affecting their abililty to hunt, trap and fish.

ACFN is warning all residents in the area to think twice before heading out on the ice.