First Nations communities in the Gasp unite against fracking - Action News
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First Nations communities in the Gasp unite against fracking

The head of the Mi'kmaq Gespeg Nation, Manon Jeannotte, said that they are ready to take legal action and, if necessary, community members will occupy the drill sites.

Group of First Nations leaders threaten legal action over Petrolia drilling projects

A Petrolia well at the Haldimand site in the Gasp. (Radio-Canada)

A group of First Nations communities inQuebec have come out in opposition to hydraulic fracturing projects on their territories inthe Gasp and onAnticostiIsland.

Faced with a number of potential energy projects,Mi'kmaq communities inGespeg, Listuguj and Gesgapegiaghaveteamed up withthe Innu people in Mingan and MaliseetsfromViger todemand respect for their ancestral rights.

The group isdenouncingPetrolia in particular, after the company announced it was considering hydro frackingfor itsHaldimandsites,located next to a residential area in Gasp.

The First Nations communities are concerned about the effect the Petroliaprojectcould have on habitat, wildlife and drinking water.

Jean-Charles Pitacho (left), leader of the Innu community in Mingan, with Manon Jeannotte of the Gespeg Mi'kmaq (centre) and Jacques Tremblay from the Maliseet Nation in Viger. (Claude Cote/Radio-Canada)

The head of theMi'kmaqGespegNation,ManonJeannotte,said that they are ready to take legal action if the communities are not properly consulted.

If necessary,community members will occupy the drill sites,Jeannotte said.The communities also wantto meet with the provincialgovernment.

Along with theHaldimand site, Petrolia is also involved in a controversial joint venture on Anticosti Island, located in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

The joint venture is currently preparing sites on the island for an exploratory fracking operation.

With files from Radio-Canada's Jean-Franois Deschnes