The Keepers of the Water seek your help to complete the final step of our Hay River Basin Pollution Study. For many years, Traditional Knowledge Carriers and Indigenous hunter trappers of NW Alberta have seen significant deterioration of their traditional lands, waters, plants, wildlife and livelihoods caused by petroleum installation spills and pipelines breaks.

A media conference and information session will be held February 2, 2017 at noon to discuss the Hay River Basin pollution investigation

In 2009 and 2013, reports of a new type of 'spill' surfaced in the Cold Lake region, in which the earth's crust is cracked, broken, and oozing bitumen.

The Keepers of the Water will hold our ninth annual Gathering at Bushe River next week. Unfortunately, yet another pipeline break has occurred that is challenging our co-hosts. Near Chateh, on Dene Tha' Traditional Territory, Nuvista Energy spilled 100 cubic metres of "emulsion" (bitumen, sand, and waste water) over a 13,200 square metre area.

The CNRL spill is of great concern to the Keepers, finding it unacceptable that the leaderships of the neighbouring First Nations have not been given access to do their own assessments.

Two major oil spills have occurred recently in Alberta: one near Red Deer and the other near Rainbow Lake. Both raise serious issues about pipeline safety and harm to the environment, human health and traditional ways of life.