Keepers of the Water Lifts Traditional Ecological Knowledge Holders Voices at COP15 UN Biodiversity Conference

For Immediate Release: December 1, 2022 - Tuesday’s record-strong earthquake near Peace River, Alberta, occurred directly under a large, heavy oil In-Situ project operated by Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNRL). The 5.8 magnitude earthquake was preceded by two 5.2 magnitude earthquakes and many aftershocks, all directly within the large CNRL Carmon Creek In-Situ oil field. The project was initiated by Shell Canada over ten years ago and sold to CNRL in 2017.

The underground activities of the Carson Creek large heavy oil project strongly suggest a direct industry cause of these earthquakes. A thorough independent/government geological and seismological investigation is needed to determine the facts.

Seismic activity is known to occur due to this type of In-Situ project. Industry should track seismic events related to the massive amounts of hot water injected 550 meters deep into the 30-metre bitumen layer. Injected water can unpredictably follow sub-injection fractures. Page 29 of the Shell 2016 Carson Creek Progress report discusses seismic risk associated with this In-Situ project, while seismic monitoring is not mentioned in the CNRL 2017 Directive 54 Annual Performance Presentation.

Indigenous leaders speak against Pathways Alliance industry event hosted by Canada at COP, as allies walk out of event.

If you missed this event live you can still watch the replay of this vitally important collaborative webinar!

Here’s What is Happening This Week with Keepers of the Water!

Keepers of the Water and Indigenous Knowledge Wisdom Center are pleased to present this two-day in-person gathering. Indigenous people have stewarded the land since the beginning of time, we hold the answers to protecting water and this will be discussed by looking further at the following topics; UNDRIP, Doctrine of Discovery, Free Prior and Informed Consent, Criminalization of Indigenous people on our lands, The Indian Act, Canadian Legal System vs. Indigenous Legal Systems, Alberta Regulatory System, Before Contact, Looking at how much Canada spends fighting Indigenous people in the colonial court systems, and The Alberta Tarsands Tailings Ponds and the threats to Water and how this infringes on Indigenous Rights.

Due to travel accommodations, we've adjusted the start time of this presentation to 5 pm to allow for those leaving the opportunity to attend this important event.

Keepers of the Water Presents: Living Downstream of the Oil Sands: What You Need to Know About the World’s Largest Industrial Project

Northern United Place, 54 St & 50a Ave, Yellowknife, NT on Thursday, July, 21st, 2022, 5:00 pm till 6:30 pm. This free event is open to the public

Keepers of the Water Presents, Living Downstream of the Oil Sands: What You Need to Know About the World’s Largest Industrial Project

Northern United Place is located at 54 St & 50a Ave, Yellowknife, NT. On Thursday, July, 21st, 2022 from 6:30 pm till 9:00 pm.

This free event is open to the public.

Contact Info: Jesse Cardinal: 780-520-7108, Daniel T’seleie: 867-444-0509

A delegation from the Keepers of the Water (KOW) grassroots organization will be attending the annual Dene National Assembly from July 18th to the 21st, 2022, hosted at the Wiliideh Site (Yellowknife River) in the Akaitcho Territory.

In 1884, traditional Indigenous ceremonies such as the potlatch, ghost dance, shake tent, and sundance were banned under the 1876 Indian Act. Our people were arrested for conducting or participating in traditional ceremonies and the Canadian government forcibly took their ceremonial materials away. Our songs, prayers, sacred items, and ceremonies were hidden in order to be secretly kept alive until such a time comes for our Peoples to return to our Land and live our traditional ways in a modern world. The ban on our traditional ways remained in effect until 1951.

Keepers of the Water, Board of Directors Co-Chair, Cleo Reese

Image from page 29 of the 50 Years of Sprawling Tailings - Mapping decades of destruction by oil sands tailings report co authored by Gillian Chow-Fraser of Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS), and Alienor Rougeot of Environmental Defence Canada (EDC)