Leaders from First Nations in areas affected by the recent oil spill in the North Saskatchewan River met with representatives from Husky Energy, Leader of the official Opposition, Trent Wotherspoon and North Battleford mayor, Ian Hamilton Thursday, July 28, to advocate for inclusion in the oil spill response.
Following the meeting, Chief Bobby Cameron of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations said that the priority was to begin a dialogue with Husky representatives to protect treaty rights regarding land and water.
Although invited to the meeting, CEO of Husky Energy, Asim Ghosh, as well as Minister of Environment Herb Cox and Minister Responsible for First Nations, Métis and Northern Affairs Jim Reiter did not attend.
Chief Lori Whitecalf of Sweetgrass First Nation said she was glad representatives from Husky were at the table but was disappointed by the absence of key figures in decision-making.
“We’ve been excluded from all talks as though we don’t exist,” she said. “I can’t let the provincial and federal government away from that responsibility.”
Whitecalf voiced her frustration with Premier Brad Wall for a tweet stating he and Minister Reiter would continue to reach out to community leaders affected by the oil spill. She spoke to her fellow chiefs in the surrounding area and none were contacted by the Premier’s office or Minister Reiter’s office.
Some progress was made by the talks. First Nation leaders appointed two representatives to the command centre set up by Husky Energy to respond to the spill.
“We now have a voice and a vote and decision-making powers at that command centre,” Cameron said. “So there’s been a little bit of progress, but a lot more work still to get done.”
