After years of community requests, a new federally funded research project will investigate the health impacts of oilsands on residents in Fort Chipewyan, an Indigenous community in northern Alberta. The community has long suspected a connection between cancers in Fort Chipewyan and the industrial activities along the Athabasca River.
The study will analyze current and historical health data, track local disease trends, and assess the impact of environmental changes on the community’s culture and lifestyle. Led by third-party researchers and supervised by the Métis Nation, Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN), and Mikisew Cree First Nation (MCFN), the study will span ten years with a budget of $12 million. The federal government will play a monitoring role.
Named Project Monument Hill after a local viewpoint, the study will blend western science with Indigenous knowledge to understand the link between environmental conditions, traditional land use, and community well-being. According to Ruby Ladouceur, president of the Fort Chipewyan Métis Nation, the goal is to address these intertwined issues comprehensively.
Dr. John O’Connor, an advocate for investigating cancer in Fort Chipewyan since 2006, expressed satisfaction with the study but emphasized the need for a shorter timeframe due to the urgency of the situation. Previous reports on cancer rates in Fort Chipewyan have been criticized for not accounting for all relevant data, with concerns raised about the impact of industrial activities on community health.
