Keepers ride the Freedom Train
April 25, 2012
Keepers of the Athabasca will be riding the Freedom Train 2012 with the Yinka Dene Alliance against tar sands pipelines on First Nation lands. The Freedom Rally will be held at Jasper Train Station on April 30 at 4pm, and Keepers of the Athabasca will host the Freedom Train Feast in Edmonton on May 1 at 5pm.
» Freedom Train 2012


Save the date! Healing Walk 2012 is confirmed for August 4
April 11, 2012
We are calling on allies and supporters to join us on the Third Annual Tar Sands Healing Walk on Saturday, August 4, 2012. We are asking all community members of the Tar Sands regions and those in the path of tar sands infrastructure (pipelines and refineries) and all supporters to come out and walk for the healing of the land and our sacred waters.
» Photos: Healing Walk 2011


Article: Clean Energy on Horizon for Fort Chip
February 21, 2012
Meagan Wohlberg of the Northern Journal reports on a pilot project between Mike Mercredi and the Keepers of the Athabasca that could see Fort Chipewyan become the first northern Aboriginal community to make the switch to renewable energies. An Energy Baseline Study by Marc Huot of the Pembina Institute is available for download, and provides a detailed energy breakdown for the community, identifying opportunities to reduce costs.
» Article: Clean Energy on Horizon for Fort Chip, Meagan Wohlberg, Northern Journal
» Presentation: Fort Chipewyan Community Energy Baseline, Pembina Institute (4.6Mb PDF)


Release: Keepers of the Athabasca signs Declaration opposing the Northern Gateway Pipeline
February 20, 2012
Keepers of the Athabasca has signed the historic "Save the Fraser Declaration" opposing the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline. The Declaration states: "We will not allow the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines, or similar Tar Sands projects, to cross our lands, territories, and watersheds, or the ocean migration routes of Fraser River salmon." The Keepers of the Athabasca stand in solidarity with all signatories to the Declaration.
» Release: Keepers of the Athabasca signs Declaration, Keepers of the Athabasca


Letter: The Vista Coal Mine project, Coalspur Mines
February 16, 2012
In this letter to Alberta Environment and Water, Carl Hunt of the Athabasca Bioregional Society (Hinton) details a number of critical concerns over the development of Coalspur Mines's Vista Coal Mine project, particularly to do with hydrology and aquatic ecology, and calls for an independent expert review of the Mine Plan.
» Letter: The Vista Coal Mine project, Coalspur Mines, Carl Hunt
» Map: Coalspur Mine Lease Boundary, Carl Hunt
» Proposed Terms of Reference, Environmental Impact Assessment Report, Alberta Environment
» Vista Coal Mine Project Summary Table, Alberta Environment


Online petition: I Am a Radical
February 13, 2012
Steve Earle, a hydrogeologist and teacher at Vancouver Island University (VIU) has produced a petition in light of the position the federal government has expressed on people disagreeing with what's happening in northern Alberta and BC, including the Northern Gateway Pipeline (see our position paper).
» Online petition: I Am a Radical, Steve Earle


Keepers of the Water Publishes a Position Paper on the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline
February 11, 2012
As Keepers of the Water, we believe our present Conservative Government in Ottawa is putting oil industry profits ahead of the social, economic and environmental well-being of Canadians. It is being done in such a way as to erode our democratic rights in the process. This paper, prepared by the Keepers of the Athabasca and Keepers of the Water, outlines our position on the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline and our concerns for the right of participation in the Environmental Assessment process.
» Our position on: The Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline, Keepers of the Water


An Open Letter Regarding a Water Withdrawal Application by Cenovus Energy
January 31, 2012
In this open letter to Alberta Environment and Water, Jesse Cardinal, Downriver Coordinator, and Roland Woodward, Chair for the Keepers of the Athabasca urge the proper consultation of Metis and First Nation peoples potentially affected by a water withdrawal application by Cenovus Energy. Jesse Cardinal: "Silence is not an option."
» Letter to Alberta Environment and Water, Keepers of the Athabasca


VIDEO: Spoil, a documentary on the Great Bear Rainforest
January 30, 2012
This powerful documentary by EP Films has incredible photography by a group of the world's top wildlife photographers. It brings the true picture of the coast this oil would be traveling through to get to open ocean, and the danger level involved. It highlights the nature we all want to protect, but our blinkered and incessant addiction to burn more oil, is helping to destroy.
» Spoil, a documentary on the Great Bear Rainforest, EP Films


VIDEO: Alternative Water Futures: The need for non-market solutions to Alberta's water crisis
January 11, 2012
Jeremy Schmidt, Trudeau Scholar and author of the Parkland Institute research report, Alternative Water Futures in Alberta, presents on the need for alternatives to water markets and real solutions to Alberta's water crisis.
» Watch the video presentation by Jeremy Schmidt
» Download the report, Alternative Water Futures in Alberta, Parkland Institute


Keepers Participate in Ottawa Action against the Keystone Pipeline
September 27, 2011
Keepers of the Athabasca Chair Roland Woodward of Ft. McMurray First Nation and Co-Chair Julie Burke of the Keepers of the Pembina led protesters over the barricade in a peaceful demonstration against the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline from Alberta to Texas, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on September 26, 2011. Julie and Roland were arrested along with more than 100 other protesters in their courageous stand for Our Sacred Water. Roland was easy to spot with his big white hat, eagle feather and cane.All protestors who were arrested were fined, banned from the Parliament grounds for one year, and released. No criminal charges were laid.
» Read the full news release
» VIDEO: Ottawa Action, Greenpeace


Peter Kent, MP responds to Keepers call for assessment
September 8, 2011
The Honourable Peter Kent, MP and Minister of the Environment, has responded to the request by the Keepers of the Athabasca for a full panel federal environmental assessment of the BC Hydro Site C dam.
» Download our request for an environmental assessment, June 17, 2011 (53Kb PDF)
» Download Minister Kent's response (143Kb PDF)


Keepers of the Athabasca AGM minutes are now available
July 28, 2011
Keepers of the Athabasca held its Annual Gathering and AGM on the Pembina River Campground at Jarvie, AB Friday evening June 3 through Sunday morning June 5. The minutes of this important meeting are now available for download
» Download the AGM minutes (90Kb DOC)


Photos: Downstream Communities Hold Second Annual Healing Walk through the Tar Sands
June 25, 2011
On Saturday, June 25th, the Keepers of the Athabasca, a network of First Nation, Métis and settler community members along the Athabasca river hosted a 'healing walk' through the tar sands. This walk wass started by local people directly affected and heartbroken by what the tar sands development has done to their traditional homelands. Photo gallery.
» read more


Fundraising: Help us fund the Keepers Watch Toll-Free Reporting Hotline
March 15, 2011
Join us in celebration of CanadaWaterWeek March 15-22. Support our effort to give citizens the opportunity to voice their concerns on what is happening along the Athabasca River through the Toll-Free Reporting Hotline. The Hotline provides citizens with the opportunity to become a part of the solution within their local community. Information compiled will also be used to determine where concentrated efforts are needed along the watershed. World Water Day is March 22 and we can make this project a reality by then. Your small change can make big change!
» Project details and your opportunity to give


Tipping Point: CBC's Nature of Things looks at the oil sands
January 27, 2011
This two-hour documentary special hosted by Dr. David Suzuki goes into the heart of the conflict surrounding Alberta's oil sands. Featured voices include Francois Paulette (Keepers III Program Chair), Dr. David Schindler, Dr. John O'Connor (Keepers III keynote speaker), Chief Allan Adam, and several others of the Keepers family, along with Avatar director James Cameron.
» CBC Nature of Things: Tipping Point complete documentary


Friends of Wild Salmon post two new videos analyzing oil spills and environmental considerations
December 22, 2010
Friends of Wild Salmon have posted two new videos. In Anatomy of a Crude Oil Pipeline Spill: 2010 Enbridge oil spill into the Kalamazoo River, Michigan, Beth Wallace of the National Wildlife Federation presents a timeline of a recent Enbridge spill. In Beyond Spills: Environmental considerations for communities along Pipeline Corridors, Erin O'Brien of the Wisconsin Wetland Association discusses lessons learned from an Enbridge pipeline project.
» Anatomy of a Crude Oil Pipeline Spill · Beyond Spills


Keepers of the Athabasca holds its fall board and council meeting at MBRS
November 17, 2010
Keepers of the Athabasca will hold its fall board and council meeting Friday, November 19 to Sunday, November 21 at the University of Alberta's Meanook Biological Research Station.


The Spirit Express arrives in Athabasca
November 8, 2010
At Keepers IV, it was determined that a strong medium to share the stories and concerns of the Keepers with Canadians could be through Canada's churches and other organizations concerned with social justice. Mardi Tindal is travelling across Canada on the Spirit Express to engage people in town hall meetings about their responses to the issues of climate and ocean change, and met with a number of Keepers in Athabasca on November 8, 2010.
» Read more about the Spirit Express


Canada's water resources in question
October 28, 2010 · Kyle Ashmead
Canadian activist and National Chairperson of the Council of Canadians Maude Barlow spoke in Edmonton on the 26th of October, at the University of Alberta, to a crowd of over 400 on the issues associated with water markets. Ian Douglass of Australia joined her via Skype and updated us on the privatization of Australia's water. Aboriginal environmental leader Sudana Goodstriker warned the crowd about the unsustainable use of water by oil and gas.
» Read the full article


Water 'Unconference' creates splash in Canadian Rockies
October 25, 2010 · Kyle Ashmead
From October 21 to 24, 2010, Waterlution: A Water Learning Experience, commonly referred to as the "Unconference", was held at the Canadian Water Innovation Lab for young water leaders in Canada, where they learned effective leadership skills.
» Read the full article


James Cameron Tar Sands Press Conference: First Nations speak out
September 29, 2010
First Nations leaders participated in a press conference following a tour of the Alberta tar sands by Avatar director James Cameron. Speakers included former chief George Poitras of the Mikisew Cree First Nation, National Chief Shawn Atleo of the Assembly of First Nations, Chief Lameman of the Beaver Lake Cree Nation, and Gerald Amos of the Coastal First Nations.
» Watch excerpts from the press conference


APTN Investigates: Toxic Overflow Part 1 and Part 2
September 29, 2010
In these video segments, APTN studies the contamination of First Nations by unregulated landfills and dumps, and the risk of groundwater pollution by toxic industrial waste. Part One looks at the problem in the Sagkeeng First Nation in Manitoba. Part Two looks at work being done in Saskatchewan First Nations.
» APTN Investigates: Toxic Overflow Part 1 and Part 2


Photos: Downstream Community Members Hold Healing Walk through Tar Sands Region
September 22, 2010
On Saturday, August 14th the Keepers of the Athabasca, a network of First Nation, Metis and settler community members along the Athabasca river hosted a 'healing walk' through the tar sands. Photo gallery.
» read more


Upper McLeod River Information Session
September 20, 2010
Keepers of the Athabasca will host an information session on the Upper McLeod River at the Red Brick in Edson on September 25, 2010, 9am to 5pm. Topics will include gravel mining in the Athabasca Basin, cumulative effects in headwaters regions, a watershed management plan, and a planning workshop to develop a local watershed group.
» Download the poster 268kb PDF


Keepers of the Athabasca signs letter to Pelosi and Markey
September 10, 2010
The Keepers of the Athabasca and a number of our sister organizations working to protect the Athabasca Watershed have submitted a letter to US Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and Congressman Edward Markey, Chairman of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. Our letter highlights our concern with the very serious consequences of reliance on Canadian tar sands oil and the Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline.
» Letter to Pelosi and Markey 105kb PDF


Annual bird mortality in the bitumen tailings ponds in northeastern Alberta, Canada
September 9, 2010
A new report has been published in The Wilson Journal of Ornithology by Kevin P. Timoney and Robert A. Ronconi, showing annual bird mortality in the bitumen tailings ponds of northeastern Alberta greatly exceeds industry estimates.


Report: Oil sands development contributes elements toxic at low concentrations to the Athabasca River and its tributaries
August 30, 2010
A new report has been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by Erin N. Kelly, David W. Schindler, Peter V. Hodson and Jeffrey W. Short, linking high levels of toxic pollutants in the Athabasca River system to oilsands mining.


» More news at Keepers of the Water