[PJB]

Dene First Nation blockades road to oilsands site
Kenyon Wallace, Saskatchewan News Network
Published: Friday, June 22, 2007
SASKATOON -- A road blockade established by the Clearwater River Dene Nation in northern Saskatchewan Thursday aims to halt the exploration activities of Oilsands Quest Inc. on the First Nation's traditional territory, says Chief Roy Cheecham.

The blockade of Cluff Lake Road -- the First Nation's main thoroughfare leading to some of Oilsands Quest's major exploration operations -- comes in response to a breakdown of negotiations between the First Nation and Oilsands Quest.

Negotiations were halted Wednesday when an agreement that would recognize the rights of the First Nation and accommodate its interests during the exploration period of the company's activities could not be reached.

We have been patient with a year and a half of negotiations, so a blockade was never our first option," Cheecham said. "But we will no longer allow the province of Saskatchewan and the companies to which they issue permits to carry out exploration in our traditional territory without our consent and without consultation as required by the courts."

In November 2005, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled governments have a legal duty to consult with aboriginals before allowing development such as new roads, mining, and logging on land subject to treaty rights. The Saskatchewan government has acknowledged the requirement of consultation, but Cheecham said virtually no consultation as required by law is occurring with the First Nation regarding development in its traditional territory.

Jim Jodouin, a lawyer for the First Nation, said the province bears the lion's share of the blame for the situation.

"The province has a duty to consult with the First Nation on activities that might impact their rights," he said in a news release. "They are the ones issuing permits that authorize the activities of Oilsands Quest and other developers without first ensuring that the First Nation has been adequately consulted."

Deb McEwen, director of communications for the Saskatchewan Justice Department, said the province's focus right now is to end the blockade. "We will not discuss the underlying issues while a blockade is in place," she said. "We are trying to keep the lines of communication with the First Nation open."

There are no plans to negotiate with Clearwater as of yet, she added.

Cheecham said the agreement proposed by Oilsands Quest fell short of "industry standards" in all respects.

But Christopher Hopkins, CEO of Oilsands Quest, said there is no such thing as an "industry standard" exploration benefit agreement because there have been so few agreements of that nature across Canada.

"The only standard we know is our standard to be transparent and to treat people fairly," Hopkins said. He added the blockade is having no effect on normal exploration operations as of yet.

Oilsands Quest has been focused on an oilsands exploration program in Saskatchewan since 2004, and has identified potential oil reserves of up to 1.5 billion barrels south of Axe Lake in Saskatchewan.

[font=Comic Sans MS] [/font]Is this good for the province?

[ShepherdsDog]

Loss of revenue means an equal loss of benefits, or it should.

[icekarma2752]

well the blockade is of course a problem but look at all the liquor revenue they bring in

[westmanguy]

^^^That was sure stereotypical...

*blinds and covers his eyes to his own local Liquor Store*

[grainfedprairieboy]

That's funny. You can't stop exploration on privately held farm land so why should you have to shut down on publicaly owned reservations?

[kathematics]

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx edit by Mod

[icekarma2752]

kathematics kathematics:

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx edit by Mod

[sandorski]

The Law seems to be onside with the natives.

[DangerMouse]

Publicly owned reservations! Wow thats a sign that people are slowly learning the issues! Twenty years ago the rednex use to whine about free land and free housing....but now some people are seeing the light--plz spread your new found knowledge

[RUEZ]

DangerMouse DangerMouse:

Publicly owned reservations! Wow thats a sign that people are slowly learning the issues! Twenty years ago the rednex use to whine about free land and free housing....but now some people are seeing the light--plz spread your new found knowledge

What's a rednex?

[Mr_Canada old]

RUEZ RUEZ:

DangerMouse DangerMouse:

Publicly owned reservations! Wow thats a sign that people are slowly learning the issues! Twenty years ago the rednex use to whine about free land and free housing....but now some people are seeing the light--plz spread your new found knowledge

What's a rednex?

An Albertan Photocopier.

[RUEZ]

Mr_Canada Mr_Canada:

RUEZ RUEZ:

DangerMouse DangerMouse:

Publicly owned reservations! Wow thats a sign that people are slowly learning the issues! Twenty years ago the rednex use to whine about free land and free housing....but now some people are seeing the light--plz spread your new found knowledge

What's a rednex?

An Albertan Photocopier.

[Mr_Canada old]

RUEZ RUEZ:

Mr_Canada Mr_Canada:

RUEZ RUEZ:

DangerMouse DangerMouse:

Publicly owned reservations! Wow thats a sign that people are slowly learning the issues! Twenty years ago the rednex use to whine about free land and free housing....but now some people are seeing the light--plz spread your new found knowledge

What's a rednex?

An Albertan Photocopier.

It was a joke... A lame one, but I thought it was funny,

Ignore me.

[Knoss]

$1:

That's funny. You can't stop exploration on privately held farm land so why should you have to shut down on publicaly owned reservations?

Valid précis, but the constitution should be amended with regards to expropriation and compensation. So long as compensation is paid and restoration thorough, I see know reason why provinces can not acquire resources from lands on reserve.

[Rev_Blair]

It has to do with levels of government and the powers they have, Knoss. First Nations see themselves as roughly analagous to provincial governments and have some pretty good reasons for seeing themselves that way.

They have also been screwed over in the past, with provincial and federal governments getting the proceeds of the revenues from the resources, and aboriginal people getting only a few jobs at the bottom of the scale.