It devours our land

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Published on Thursday, 20 December 2018 08:08
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It devours our land r1 ... View archive version The Fort McKay First Nation has traditionally been open to development in the Alberta oilsands.

Hemmed in on three sides by oilsands operations, the nation has experienced firsthand the environmental consequences of industry — while also benefited tremendously.

Lucrative contracts have meant a decent standard of living for many in Fort McKay. But those same people must drink bottled water in their homes, find sick animals on their traplines and live among high rates of miscarriage, respiratory illness and cancer.

It has become increasingly difficult for members of the Fort McKay First Nation to practice their traditional ways of life on their territory. That's why, when a company put forward a proposal to open a new oilsands project near Moose Lake — the nation's last refuge to hunt, fish and gather traditional plants — the people of Fort McKay responded with a resounding, 'aw, hell no.'

But that didn't stop Alberta from permitting the project.

This week, on the heels of the Fort McKay First Nation's lawsuit against Alberta for failing to protect their Treaty 8 rights, we bring you an intimate peek into the life of this Indigenous community located at ground zero of Canada's largest industrial zone.

Photographer Aaron Vincent Elkaim spent time documenting the daily life of Fort McKay, where industrial impacts have irreparably altered cultures and traditions, childhoods and dreams. The Fort McKay First Nation has been fighting to protect Moose Lake from industry for two decades.

The nation's story is one of push coming to shove, Elkaim writes.

We bring you this, and so many more great stories this week. Please read on.

Carol Linnitt
Managing editor, The Narwhal

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