NWT Indigenous, environmental groups restate treat-release opposition

More Indigenous and environmental groups in the NWT are raising their voices to oppose industrial plans to release oil sands tailings into the upstream Athabasca River.

Alternatives North published a letter to territorial environment minister Jay Macdonald over the weekend calling on the NWT government to “act swiftly and do everything in their power to stop the release before it begins.”

The social, environmental and economic justice coalition argues there is no evidence that treated oil sands tailings are completely safe to release into the environment. The letter highlights concerns about potential health impacts on downstream communities.

Alternatives North particularly raised issue with the Alberta Energy Regulator’s decision to exempt Suncor’s proposal for treat and release from environmental review.

The Northwest Territory Métis Nation also published a letter it sent to the Alberta Government last week, calling on the province to not authorize the release of treated oil sands mine water until potential downstream and cumulative impacts have been adequately assessed and addressed.

“The NWTMN has a responsibility to protect the lands and water upon which our members and future generations depend,” the letter states.

“Given the scale of the oil sands mine water issue and the uncertainties that remain, the NWTMN believes that protection of downstream communities and ecosystems must take precedence over timelines established to accelerate mine water management and tailings reclamation.”

Status of regulations

Industry is not currently permitted to release oil sands tailings into the environment. Those tailings generally contain a mixture of sand, silt, clay, residual bitumen, chemical compounds, minerals and water.

Companies have been pushing for treat and release to address more than a trillion litres of tailings held in containment ponds near the Athabasca River. Without that issue being dealt with, industry has said some mine sites cannot be fully reclaimed. While environmental and Indigenous groups are skeptical, some companies, including Suncor, insist they have the technology to safely pursue the method.

The Alberta government is working on water quality standards to allow the treat and release of oil sands tailings, and has said it plans to publish those standards by the end of 2026. The federal government must ultimately decide whether to accept those regulations.

NWT environment minister Macdonald has said the territory does not currently support treat and release as there are gaps in the science.

“I think we’ve been very clear that our position will not change until we can see there is robust science that proves this is a safe option for northerners,” he told Cabin Radio.

Indigenous water protection non-profit Keepers of the Water has voiced opposition to treat and release, which was a major topic of discussion at last month’s Dene National Assembly.

Delegates at the assembly passed a resolution to establish a Dene Water Council to protect, preserve, monitor and restore waters in Dene territory.

‘We have to collaborate’

Earlier this year, the Dene Nation signed an agreement with Treaty 8 Sovereign Nations committing to work together to protect waters that connect their territories.

Trevor Mercredi, grand chief of Treaty 8 Sovereign Nations, spoke about the importance of collaboration at the national assembly, saying water “will always connect us together.”

“We’re dealing with a rogue premier in Alberta. We’re dealing with a prime minister that has a one-track mind when it comes to the economy and they’re moving regulations around,” he said. “We have to collaborate, we have to work together and come to an understanding.”

During a presentation at the assembly, Gerry Cheezie – co-chair of Keepers of the Water and former chief of the Tthebatthie Denesųłiné, who is working on water issues for the Dene Nation – said treat and release is “the biggest single threat” to the Mackenzie River system.

“For years the Dene assumed that the water will continue to flow, that the quality of the water will stay pure. Well, that’s no longer the case,” he said. “We’ve turned the Mackenzie River basin into a sewer for industry from Alberta.”

The federal and NWT governments have nominated the Mackenzie River for designation as a heritage river system. The territory now has three years to develop a stewardship plan in collaboration with Dene, Métis and Inuvialuit people and communities in the Dehcho, Sahtu and Beaufort Delta regions.

Cheezie also spoke about the importance of collaboration, raised concerns about federal plans to fast-track major projects, and said water “must be the highest priority of the Dene Nation.”

“All these other issues in the communities that you deal with – education, justice, housing, drugs and alcohol – are all going to be secondary if our water is gone,” he said. “We talk about our future generations. Well, that’s who we’re fighting this for.”