Documents implicate Syncrude in eviction of Fort McMurray Indigenous community

Astudy released by theMcMurrayMtis ThursdayimplicatesSyncrude and various levels of governmentin the eviction of a First Nations and Mtissettlement.

• Fort McMurray wants public inquiry into removal of Indigenous settlement
• Teepee-raising protests forced removal of Indigenous families in Fort McMurray
• 'A dirty deed': Fort McMurray Mtis demand apology after historic eviction of an Indigenous settlement

Syncrude has previously denied any involvement in the removal of residents from the area known as Moccasin Flats in Fort McMurray's lower townsite 40 years ago.

Ininterviews withCBCNews, the oil company instead blamedthe municipality for carryingout the eviction.

But the studysuggests boththe oil company and the municipality played a key rolein the forced removal of a Mtisand First Nations settlement that existed along the banks of the Athabasca andSnyerivers.

CBCobtained an advance copy Wednesday of the report, entitled The Moccasin Flats Evictions: Metis Home, Forced Relocation, and Resilience in Fort McMurray, Alberta.

Researchers Tara Joly and HerewardLongleysaiddocuments suggest a Syncrude-owned development companyworked with the town of Fort McMurrayon the evictions.

But they cautioned the research does not definitively showSyncrudedirectly worked to evict the residentsand noted there are outstanding questions and documents that could determine Syncrude's full role.

At least 14 Indigenous families were evictedfromMoccasin Flats starting in the late 1970s to make way for growth in the rapidly expanding town.

"A lot of the stuff that people have said over the years are actually true," BillLoutitt,McMurrayMtisCEO, said Wednesday.

PatShottwas one of the most prominent victims of the eviction.

He was one ofthelast who stoodin the face of bulldozers and police refusingto leave.Shottwas later arrested.

Thirty-seven years later his sonSteveattended a press conference Thursday in FortMcMurraywhere a report on the evictions was presented.

"The things that surprised me was like howSyncrudehad a big impact on it," Steve Shott said holding the report."It was never ever mentioned. It was stuff like that. And they never to this day brought anything up about it"

The residents were removed to construct several infrastructure projects, including a high-risebuilding forSyncrude's oilsandsemployees.

On Jan. 22, 1979, the town of Fort McMurraydemolished area buildings after relocating six families, states anewspaper reportin theFort McMurrayToday.Those families thatremained in Moccasin Flatswere evicted on May 14,1981.

Letter from province

One of the notable findings in the reportis a May 1975 letter from the province, which "reprimanded" Northward Developmentswhich was wholly-owned bySyncrude for requesting the evictions.

"It should be understood by all parties involved, that I, as Provincial Minister Responsible for Native Affairs, do not, and will not support any form of forceful eviction, of the inhabitants of the area in and around the Snye River," wrote Bob Bogle, who was part of Peter Lougheed's Progressive Conservative government at the time.

'I think we have a chance... to do the right thing'

6 years ago

Duration 1:19

A mash-up of voices at Wood Buffalo municipal council Tuesday as they debated whether a public inquiry should be called into the Moccasin Flats- a riverside Indigenous community that was removed.

The researchers also found a December 1976 draft development agreement between Northward Developments and the Town of Fort McMurraythat states a road allowance would be sold to Northward, while the residents of Moccasin Flats would be removed.

The agreement states the town would "assist in the relocation of existing Snyeresidents" through provincial programs.

Public inquiry called

The studywas based on interviews withMtismembers who lived through the eviction,archival material and municipal and provincial documents.

• MOREFORTMcMURRAYNEWS: Fort McMurray region's Indigenous groups support oilsands mine, company tells review panel
• MORE FORTMcMURRAYNEWS:Teck's $20B Frontier oilsands project heads to joint review hearing
• MORE FORTMcMURRAYNEWS:School of kindness: Fort McMurray honours Mtis elder who believed in its power

Syncrudespokesperson,LeithanSlade, told CBCthe companyis aware of the report and will work with the McMurrayMtisto understand its findings.

AdamHardiman, a spokesperson for the municipality, said administrationlooks forward to reading the report'sdetails and "moving ahead in a spirit of humility and reconciliation."

In July, the municipality called for a provincialinquiry that would have the authority to subpoena records and people, in order to obtain a completepicture of what happened.

But Loutitt said theMcMurray Mtis would rather see what he calls "reconcili-action."

"We don't believe there should be an inquiry," Loutitt said. "It takes too long and nothing gets resolved.They talk reconciliation, but, we want to see some action."

The recommendations for reconciliation outlined in the report include:

• A formal apology
• Compensation for removed families
• A monument and cultural centre to mark the wrong that was done
• Construction ofa homeless shelter
• Cultural training for government and industry representatives

Connect with David Thurton, CBC'sFort McMurraycorrespondent, onFacebook,Twitter,LinkedInor email him atdavid.thurton@cbc.ca