Mikisew Cree First Nation

It is a situation of environmental r- racism.

Mikisew Cree First Nation is downstream of the proposed release site.

Melodie Lepine is the chief.

We often say, you know, if the, if the rivers flew in the opposite direction, you know, to non-um Indigenous communities, would things be like this?

They are entirely tied.

And so what happens then in a deal that gets made around an MOU for, um, fast-tracking major projects in our territories is that that gets sidelined as- Historical gobbledygook, and really the reality is that all we need to do is consult with First Nations and checkbox that we consulted with Saddle Lake Cree Nation, we consulted with Big Stone, with Mikisew, with Sturgeon.

And, and because Canada and Alberta have processes, huge processes built around that, the conversation is brought down to this simple conversation around how many First Nations were at that meeting.

For example, with the Mikisew and the ACFN recently, um, when...

I can't remember the name of the company, but they were do- they were talking about the tailings ponds.

They came into the nation, and they brought food, and they brought all kinds of things as if to show that they have done consultation.

Um, so we're almost, you know, almost 11,000, like 10,700 strong, right? And, you know, they're in that sort of oil sands region, and they're being consulted, um, even on this, uh, treat and release, um, issue that's going on.

And, you know, that, to me, that is so scary.

Uh, they announce something, don't talk to First Nations until they send a memo, usually on a Friday afternoon, and then that First Nation is then forced to deal with the mess of what's been created by the announcement, usually to appease, in this case, the Alberta premier.

And, you know, the election thing you're talking about, that did happen, uh, here with, uh, Mikisew Cree Nation.

Uh, Jennifer, we've seen, uh, some First Nations, including Mikisew in particular, those that are part of the Athabasca Tribal Council, who haven't necessarily been all that pro-pipeline in the past, saying they like what they're hearing from the PM on this project.

Uh, did that surprise you? And is this pipeline no longer a pipe dream?

It's Billy Joe Tucker.

When I spoke with him, he was the chief of Mikisew First Nation.

He's now the former chief, and he's discussing Forever Canada.

So just one moment here.

I guess I just didn't wanna work in a city.

And so I accepted a job up in the Athabasca Delta at the small hamlet community of Fort Chipewyan, and, uh, that's the land of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, Mikisew Cree First Nation, and Métis Local 125.

And that is where I learned everything that I know.

I had some great mentors, great elders in the community that answered all my questions and, and the oppor- and then the principal of the school, her name is Carrie Saretsky.