After more than twenty years of community requests, a federally funded study will soon investigate the health impacts of the oilsands on Fort Chipewyan residents, an Indigenous community in northern Alberta. Local residents have long suspected a connection between cancers in Fort Chipewyan and the industrial activities upstream along the Athabasca River.
The study, named Project Monument Hill, will analyze current and historical health data, examine local disease patterns, and assess the impact of environmental changes on the community’s culture and way of life. Led by third-party researchers and overseen by the Métis Nation, Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN), and Mikisew Cree First Nation (MCFN), the study has a 10-year timeline and a budget of $12 million.
Ruby Ladouceur, president of the Fort Chipewyan Métis Nation, emphasized the importance of combining western science with Indigenous knowledge in understanding the relationship between environmental conditions, traditional land use, and the well-being of the community. The federal government will play an observer role in the study.
Dr. John O’Connor, a physician who has been advocating for investigations into cancer in Fort Chipewyan since 2006, expressed his satisfaction with the upcoming study but raised concerns about its lengthy duration. Previous reports on cancer in the community have been criticized for overlooking residents who left, potentially skewing the data.
While past studies have indicated higher rates of certain cancers in Fort Chipewyan compared to the rest of Alberta, the exact causes remain unclear. The new study aims to provide comprehensive insights into the environmental and health challenges faced by the Indigenous community, focusing on the impact of oilsands developments on residents’ well-being.
Community leaders stress the significance of this study in addressing longstanding concerns and understanding the complex interplay between environmental changes, health outcomes, and community well-being in Fort Chipewyan.