Indigenous leaders support Smith Landing's fight against Teck Frontier project

The leaders of the K'atl'odeeche First Nationand the N.W.T Mtis Nation are supportingthe Smith's Landing First Nation in their fight against the Teck Frontierproject a controversial mine in northern Alberta.

The Teck Frontier project, located 110 km north of Fort McMurray, Alta., would pump out 260,000 barrels of oil everyday and create 7,000 jobsif approved.

Smith's Landing First Nation approached the Alberta government on at least four separate occasions to ask for consultation, according to Becky Kostka, the nation's land and resources manager. Last week, Chief Gerry Cheezie called on the territorial government to speak out against the project.

April Martel, chief of the K'atl'odeeche First Nation, first heard about the Teck Frontier projectlast December during a small meeting in Ottawa, whereCheezie described the potential impacts the mine could have on his land.

Cheezie argued that contaminants from the mine could enter the water supply at the Peace-Athabasca Delta and stream downwardinto the Slave River and intoGreat Slave Lake.

Martel said she was shockedand wanted to support the work being done bySmith's Landing First Nation.

"I think every traditional area ... will be impact[ed]," said Martel. "It's like a ripple effect."

The traditional territory of the K'atl'odeeche First Nation includes a northwestern section of Wood Buffalo National Park and borders Great Slave Lake.

The K'atl'odeeche First Nation requested to attend review panel sessions for the Teck Frontier project in 2018.

In their written submission, they that other nations are at more direct risk from the mining project, but still had concerns about water quality and quantity along withimpacts to migratory birds.

"[Cheezie] is trying to fight for the better, [not just] for his First Nation, but all around," said Martel.

"I believe that we should support him with what he's trying to do."

Mtis nation: 'We're being ignored'

Garry Bailey, president of the Northwest TerritoryMtis Nation, said he will continue to oppose the Teck Frontier project along with Smith's Landing First Nation.

"I fully support Chief Cheeziein all of his endeavours," Bailey told the CBC. "If he needs a letter of support from us, I would give him one tomorrow."

It's definitely not good when we're being ignored.- Garry Bailey, president of the N.W.T Mtis Nation

The Mtis Nation represents members from their three regional councils in the South Slave: Hay River, Fort Resolution and Fort Smith.

In 2017, the Mtis Nation requested that TeckResources, the company behind the mine,create an Impact Benefit Agreement with them so nation members could be compensated if there were any adverse changes to their traditional way of life.

Bailey said no compensation has been offered.

"It's definitely not good when we're being ignored," Bailey said. "Weare the downstream communities that will definitely be affected."

The Peace-Athabasca Delta and the Slave River extend through theMtis Nation'straditional territory, according to a 2018 written submission to the review panel. In the submission, it said the riveris"critically important" to harvesting wildlife andare used as a means of transportation and a source of drinking water.

'We demand to be heard'

The support from bothnation leaders comes after Cheezieaccused Alberta Premier Jason Kenneyof not consulting every First Nation that will be adversely impacted by the TeckFrontier mine.

"We may be the northernmost community in Alberta ...but we are already experiencing significant environmental change, and we cannot stay quiet any longer," a letter sent to Kenney's office reads.

"We demand to be heard."

The First Nation states in the letter that it requires meaningful consultation with the Alberta government before any decisions are made on the Teck Frontier project.The First Nation said it has not ruled out potential legal action against the province if the project goes ahead.

CBC contacted Kenney's office and the energy minister's office for comment. Neither responded by Thursday afternoon.