Chief Mel Grandjamb and Councillors of the Fort McKay First Nation (FMFN) issued a statement reacting to Feb. 18 ruling from the Court of Queen’s Bench.
The court gave the Alberta government 10 days to decide on Prosper Petroleum’s Rigel project.
Although disappointed with the ruling, the FMFN said they approve the announcement from the province that they would appeal.
“The Queen’s Bench instruction to Alberta is inappropriate because the Alberta Energy Regulator’s approval of the Rigel project is before the Court of Appeal and a decision whether that approval will stand is expected in the next 60 days.”
Talks between the FMFN and Alberta about protecting the Moose Lake area and its reserves started almost 20 years ago.
“Moose Lake Together” Summit
They added Rigel, which is a bitumen recovery project, would have significant adverse effects on Moose Lake.
The Alberta government met with the FMFN in Edmonton on Jan. 31 for the Moose Lake Together Summit.
Notable attendees at the summit were Alberta’s Environment and Parks Minister, Jason Nixon, Indigenous Relations Minister, Rick Wilson, and the CEO of Prosper, Brad Gardiner.
The First Nation said the province is serious about negotiating a solution and acknowledging the area’s importance to Fort McKay.
“A key outcome was the announcement made jointly by Fort McKay and the Government of Alberta of a three-month roadmap to complete and approve for immediate implementation the Moose Lake 10-Kilometre Access Management Plan. The plan will permit carefully managed, responsible development that also protects the exercise of Fort McKay’s Treaty rights and traditional land uses.”
FMFN added the two would hold monthly leadership meetings and weekly working sessions to ensure a high collaborative spirit.
They also invited Indigenous communities, and forestry and industry stakeholders, including Prosper.
Meanwhile, FMFN said their community would review the court decision and apply for intervenor status in support of Alberta’s appeal.
“We are not deterred, and we will, as a community, explore all the steps we must take to protect Moose Lake, including any and all available legal options to protect our constitutionally guaranteed Treaty rights and irreplaceable heritage.”
A prior agreement to protect the area under former Alberta premier Jim Prentice went unratified.
