Blood Tribe residents not consulted on proposed coal mine despite thumbs up from officials

Prior to the Blood Tribe’s Tribal Government issuing a letter of approval in July 2019, she says she, not anyone else in the community, had ever heard of the mine.

“As I started talking to more community members of the Blood Tribe and throughout the Blackfoot Confederacy, including the Piikani and Siksika Nation, it became more apparent that no community-level consultations were done in any of these communities.”

Last summer, the letter from the Tribal Government’s Chairperson Dorothy First Rider stated that “The Blood Tribe does not object to the above-named application and its related applications on the basis that Benga has adequately addressed its project-specific concerns. The Blood Tribe is therefore of the view that Benga’s consultation should be deemed adequate.”

After pressing for three weeks by LNN, an updated statement has been provided by the First Nation regarding the project dated November 20, 2020.

It says the impact assessment studies and traditional land use assessments can be quite costly and funding for these initiatives is often limited.

“Funding was not adequate in this case to do an extensive community engagement process and only covered the traditional land use assessments and other key studies required.”

The letter goes on to explain that, since 2015, there have been 22 press releases by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency about “the transparent and very public regulatory process for the Project. Public participation in the environmental review has been an option open to any individual who has concerns about the project.”

The Blood Tribe continues by stating that “a key part of that process was conducting a traditional land use assessment with traditional knowledge holders and traditional land users.”

Either way, Calf Robe believes Grassy Mountain will be devastating for local Indigenous populations given the construction it will require as well as land and air pollution in the surrounding areas.

“Because of this implication on land, it will have a direct impact on our Blackfoot spiritualities and ceremonies. If these mine sites are approved, my rights to gather, plant medicines and gather animals needed for our traditional ceremonies – I will no longer be able to do that.”

She is calling for the Government of Alberta to reinstate the 1976 Coal Policy that largely prohibited open-pit coal mines in the Foothills and Rocky Mountains. That policy was rescinded in May 2020.

On a federal level, Calf Robe wants to see the consultation process revised to include Indigenous titles and connections to the land.

Locally, she asserts that all community members in the region surrounding proposed mines should be able to easily and adequately voice any and all concerns before companies are able to even start the application process.

In the November 2020 letter from the Blood Tribe, they outlined some of the steps that Benga will take:

Benga has agreed to engage in on-going consultation with the Blood Tribe throughout the life of the Project including the reclamation of the mine area
In addition to the above, an Environmental Stewardship Committee will monitor the Project for the purpose of identifying and addressing environmental issues
Benga has agreed to a number of significant measures to support the Blood Tribe’s connection to and use of the Crowsnest Pass Region
Culturally significant sites identified by the Blood Tribe in the mine area will be protected where possible throughout the operation of the mine and the reclamation of the mine area
Benga has agreed to make an annual financial contribution to the Blood Tribe linked to production from the mine, these funds will be used for community purposes

“The Blood Tribe reached an agreement with Benga Mining only after Benga agreed to the above conditions to address impacts and other matters such as economic benefit to the Tribe from the project if it proceeds. These kinds of agreements are confidential for a number of reasons,” reads the statement from the Blood Tribe.

“Project proponents have to address the concerns of many First Nations who are in different proximities and circumstances with respect to a project. Addressing those varying interests would be impossible without confidentiality. Also, many First Nations do not wish to have the terms of such agreements shared with other stakeholders or other First Nations.”

For the last few weeks, Calf Robe has been organizing a community task force for Blood Tribe members who want to prevent coal mines from being developed in the Blackfoot territory. Those interested in joining the task force can send an email to LatashaCalfRobe@gmail.com.

Page 1 of the press statement on the Grassy Mountain Coal Project, dated November 20, 2020. (Supplied by Blood Tribe)

Page 2 of the press statement on the Grassy Mountain Coal Project, dated November 20, 2020. (Supplied by Blood Tribe)

More details on the Grassy Mountain Project, including letters of support from several Treaty 7 First Nations, can be found here.

by David Opinko

Blood Tribe residents not consulted on proposed coal mine despite thumbs up from officials

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