Northern Alberta’s First Nation Protest Camp Receives Court Injunction

Occupants of First Nation-Led Protest Camp in Northern Alberta Ordered to Evacuate

In defiance of drilling activities encroaching upon their traditional lands, protesters have been directed to leave a camp established by a First Nation in northern Alberta.

Located 75 kilometers east of Peace River, Alta., the camp comprises a tipi, tents, and a row of trucks, serving as Woodland Cree First Nation’s latest stance against Obsidian Energy’s expansion initiatives.

This development unfolds amidst escalating tensions between Woodland Cree and Obsidian, with the latter being implicated in a series of seismic events in the area.

Asserting their right to meaningful consultation and ultimate authority over industrial ventures on their ancestral territories, the First Nation contends that it deserves a decisive say. Conversely, company representatives argue that consultations have taken place and dispute any Indigenous veto powers.

Established on a Sunday near the Harmon Valley South field in Peace River, the camp strategically blocks access to Obsidian’s lease sites, located just south of Woodland Cree First Nation.

Protesters have been instructed to depart following the granting of an injunction on Monday by the Court of King’s Bench against both Woodland Cree First Nation and the occupants of the camp by Obsidian company officials.

 

Chief Isaac Laboucan-Avirom received formal notice from a court bailiff the morning after their arrival at the camp. The court injunction, delivered, prohibits protesters from intimidating workers or impeding access to drill sites. Should the need arise, RCMP intervention may be requested to uphold the order.

As of Wednesday morning, approximately 80 individuals persisted at the camp, with RCMP monitoring but refraining from enforcing the court directive.

Laboucan-Avirom affirmed the community’s commitment to defending their rights. He stated that the camp would persist until negotiations with Obsidian resumed.

“We’re intending to stay, This is our traditional land.”

Laboucan-Avirom expressed his community’s apprehension regarding the cumulative effects on their ancestral lands and the heightened risk of additional industry-induced seismic activity should Obsidian’s drilling operations escalate.

“If they want to work in our territory, they’re going to have to do that work with respect for the people and the land,” he said.” he emphasized.

The First Nation has consistently urged the Calgary-based company to cease its expansion endeavors. Woodland Cree First Nation initially raised concerns about Obsidian’s activities within their territory four months ago.

In February, the First Nation erected its inaugural protest camp, urging Obsidian officials to address a sequence of earthquakes in the region during 2022 and 2023. An investigation by the Alberta Energy Regulator determined that Obsidian’s underground disposal of industrial wastewater had triggered the seismic events.

While the protests had abated momentarily following discussions between the company and the First Nation, the breakdown of negotiations and the escalation of expansion plans prompted band members to establish the new camp.

Obsidian currently yields approximately 6,500 barrels of oil equivalent per day, constituting 20% of its overall production, sourced from holdings in the Peace River region, including portions within Woodland Cree territory.

In a recent shareholder update, Obsidian disclosed its intention to amplify production by 12% this year, with a primary emphasis on expanding its drilling endeavors in the Peace River region.

Laboucan-Avirom emphasized that the First Nation is open to collaboration with the industry, yet Obsidian has failed to meet its legal responsibilities. He stated that if Obsidian continues to abstain from negotiations, the First Nation will seek legal counsel to determine their next course of action.

“I’d rather work with industry and the provincial governments, but if they’re forcing me into a corner, I will have to [pursue] a legal challenge.”