Proposed oilsands mine gets support from Fort McMurray Mtis, four other Indigenous groups

FiveIndigenous groups in the Fort McMurrayregion say they won't oppose the proposed construction of a $20.6-billion oilsands mine north of the city.

The McMurray Mtis signed an agreement Tuesday with the mine proponent, Teck Resources, that promises jobs, contracts and environmentally sensitive development, according to leaders of Mtis Local 1935.

The Fort McKay Mtis, the Fort McKay First Nation and the Fort Chipewyan Mtis have also signed similar agreements with Teck Resources. The Fort McMurray First Nation 468 has withdrawn itsstatement of concern.

The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation,the Mikisew Cree First Nation and some environmental groups have said they still haveconcerns about the project's environmental impact.

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McMurray Mtis president Gail Gallupe said Teck Resources has done a year-long consultation with Mtis hunters, trappers and berry pickers.

"Our biggest concern, because of our membership, is to make sure that our air isn't going to give people cancer, that our water isn't going to mutilate our fish," Gallupe said. "[Teck Resources]did a really intensive land-use survey with us."

Ensuring Indigenous people benefit

Teck'sproposed Frontier mine, if approved, would be 110 kilometres north of Fort McMurray. Itwould create an anticipated 7,000 construction jobs, according to the Vancouver-based company.

Though theMcMurrayMtisare based in the city, the group said the project would affectmembers who hunt, trap, fish and pick berries in the area around the proposed mine.

The mine's operations would employ 2,500 people and produce 260,000 barrels of bitumen per day over an expected 40-year life span, TeckResources said. Operations are planned to begin in 2026.

The $20.6-billion mine is seen by some as a potential boost for Fort McMurray's ailing economy.

The project is expected to go before aCanadian EnvironmentalAssessmentAgencyjoint review panel hearing in the fall.

TeckResources also owns a 20-per-centstake in the Fort Hills oilsands mine.

The McMurrary Mtisleadership said it supported the agreement on behalf of its 300 members on the condition that membersand Mtis businesses receive work and contracts.

"Generally they [oilsands companies]go to otherbig companies that do the whole project," McMurray Mtis president Bill Loutitt said. "And unfortunately [usually] none of them are from our area or Aboriginal."

Because the McMurray Mtis is not a public organization it isnot obligated to disclose how much money it would receive under the agreement with TeckResources.

Chris Stannell, Teck's senior communications specialist, said in an email statement the company has been engaging with Indigenous communities andother stakeholders involved in the Frontier project for almost a decade.

The company's goal, Stannell said, is "to achieve formal participation agreements with local Indigenous communities."

"We are committed to continuing to engage with Indigenous communities throughout the regulatory process and over the life of the project," Stannell said.

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