A youth Indigenous perspective on the Canadian Tar Sands
Story by Kari Hergott, Fort Providence Métis
“Climate Change is a Human Issue. Our lives have already been altered by the impacts of the climate crisis. Climate change has affected our health, our food security and our cultural identities”
Excerpt from the Declaration of the Young Leaders’ Summit on Northern Climate Change, August 2009
I am not an activist, nor am I an environmentalist. I am an Indigenous person whose culture and livelihood is distinctly and completely connected to the land, environment and animals around me. I am Métis, and I belong to one of the three constitutionally recognized Canadian Aboriginal groups. I live on the banks of the Mackenzie River in the Northwest Territories, Canada. The river, North America’s longest river, is an intricate part of Aboriginal culture and livelihood.
Question, how did a small town Métis girl from a community of 800 people end up in Copenhagen? And on the front lines of the December 12th march to the Bella Centre? Why am I here? I am Aboriginal, Indigenous to Canada and extremely proud of it so it is my responsibility to ensure my voice is heard. My ancestors have fought long and hard to allow me to live my life the way I do today. In many ways, my involvement at the COP15 and Climate Change discussions allow me to honour their hard work, and ensure that there is a bright future for my own unborn children.
The tar sands are becoming one of the loudest and strongest concerns by Canadian youth, Indigenous peoples of the world and activists alike. Canada has a long and cruel history of condemning the fate of our Aboriginal people, the Tar Sands and their support of it is another item to add to the list. I am concerned about the Tar Sands, not only because of the environmental damage it is, and will continue to cause but also because of the direct impact it has on human lives. Fort Chipewyan, Alberta is a community directly impacted; their people, their animals and their cultures are at stake.
The deadly chemicals in the air, the deadly chemicals in the water are horrific and stealing lives. Not only are the Aboriginals of the affected communities, friends and relatives, they are fellow Canadians who deserve all the help in the world to ensure they survive. Cancer is an awful disease, I am sure we all know someone who has been affected by this horrible disease. The residents of Northern Alberta, around the tar sands development and those lives downstream are suffering from alarming cancer rates. No one deserves that fate, no one!
My small community though is starting to show alarming rates of stomach cancer. In the past year we have had 6 Aboriginal community members diagnosed, and sadly 3 of our Elders have passed on and now watch us from above. It is such a tragedy that a highly respected elder from my community at 95, was diagnosed and passed on within a month of diagnosis. Where is the logic that people who have survived some of biggest hardships in life (Residential School, Flu Pandemics, Colonization to name a few) end their lives not peacefully but in pain? Why are my Elders, our Elders becoming so ill?
My community and region is at this weird “middle” state. To our south and to our North our fate is being lived out in front of us. The horrific realities our friends in Northern Alberta are facing, are terrifying me that if our country does not move forward and change its policy and their reliance on the Tar Sands, my community will be the next to suffer that fate. Not only mine, but the entire Mackenzie River watershed that in turn will affect all of our communities. Our neighbours to the North in the Arctic have been dealing with the changing environment and face the daily effects of climate change. Traditional practices are being affected, for example if the ice is not freezing the way it has for hundreds of years, the ability to travel is limited and can become dangerous. There are so many factors affecting human lives, and cultures. It has been an honour to be surrounded by people who share the vision of protecting human lives, and cultures before non-renewable resource development. Let us hope that our efforts will be heard throughout the walls of the Bella Centre, and into the hearts and consciousness of our leaders!
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What young people demand
From the Canadian Youth Delegation to Copenhagen
- Shut the tar sands down – we call for an immediate moratorium on all tar sands development
- A just transition for workers must be assured – all tar sands workers must be retrained and given support to thrive in a new, green economy
- Respect indigenous rights – respect and protect traditional territory
- Acknowledge the health concerns of impacted communities and take immediate action to address themYouth action inside the climate negotiations expressing solidarity with impacted communities
Youth action inside the climate negotiations expressing solidarity with impacted communities