After more than 20 years of community requests, a federally funded research initiative will commence to investigate the health effects of oilsands on Fort Chipewyan residents, an Indigenous settlement in northern Alberta. Residents have long suspected a connection between cancer cases in Fort Chipewyan and the industrial activities upstream along the Athabasca River.
The study will analyze current and past health data, observe local disease trends, and monitor the community and its surroundings. It will also assess the impact of environmental changes on the community’s culture and daily life.
Dubbed Project Monument Hill, the 10-year, $12-million study was announced in August 2024. Led by third-party researchers and overseen by the Métis Nation, Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN), and Mikisew Cree First Nation (MCFN), the study will have the federal government in an observer role.
Combining Western scientific methods with Indigenous land knowledge, the study aims to comprehend the relationship between environmental conditions, traditional land use, and the well-being of the community. Dr. John O’Connor, a vocal advocate for investigating cancer in Fort Chipewyan, expressed satisfaction with the study but raised concerns about the lengthy 10-year timeline.
Previous reports on cancer incidence in Fort Chipewyan have primarily focused on medical records and health trends, possibly missing individuals who left the community for cancer treatments. A 2009 Alberta Cancer Board study revealed cancer rates in Fort Chipewyan were notably higher than the provincial average at the time.
A 2014 report by researchers from the University of Manitoba highlighted the presence of heavy metals and industrial contaminants in local wildlife, posing health risks to residents. Dr. James Talbot’s 2014 report, however, found no direct link between cancers and industrial exposure, attributing the elevated cancer rates to lifestyle factors and limited medical resources.
The new study aims to delve into the impact of environmental changes on Indigenous health, emphasizing the need to consider the community’s perspective beyond lifestyle factors. Limited publicly available data complicates the assessment of the association between cancer cases and oilsands activities, according to Callie Davies-Flett of the ACFN.
Community members stress the urgency of understanding and addressing the health impacts of oilsands developments, emphasizing the significant influence on every individual in the region, as conveyed by elders and community members.