Solidarity Amplification Kit for Downstream Indigenous Nations Speaking at ENVI Standing Committee

Indigenous nations are appearing at the ENVI Standing Committee today to speak to the ongoing toxic tailings leak at Imperial Oil’s Kearl site. Help us spread the word and send a message to Ottawa that we demand action and call on them to clean up toxic tailings!

Background:

Indigenous nations downstream of the tar sands are appearing at the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development (ENVI) on April 17, 2023, to speak to a recent incident in which toxic industrial wastewater from Imperial Oil’s Kearl site in the tar sands spilled into the environment.

Imperial Oil Limited, which is 69.6 percent owned by ExxonMobil, the Alberta Energy Regulator, and Environment and Climate Change Canada are scheduled to also appear at ENVI on April 20th and 24th.

The tar sands' tailings "ponds" now contain over 1.4 trillion litres of waste, covering an area more than 2.6 times the size of Vancouver.

For more information about tar sands tailings “ponds” please see this fact sheet.

Related Press Releases & Statements

• Statement from Indigenous and environmental groups in solidarity with the Indigenous nations testifying today about the Imperial Oil toxic leak | ICA, KOW, NDC

• ACFN demands action and accountability from AER and Imperial for multiple toxic tailings leaks and spill at Kearl | Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN)

• Ongoing toxic tar sands tailings breach highlights gross negligence from Alberta Energy Regulators (AER) | Indigenous Climate Action

• Statement from Indigenous and environmental experts on Imperial Oil’s tailings pond 5.3 million litre leak | Keepers of the Water

• Full remarks from Chief Allan Adam on the failures of Imperial Oil & the Alberta Energy Regulator to inform ACFN about ongoing tailings leaks at the Kearl Project |ACFN

• ACFN demands immediate access to lands inside the Imperial lease to conduct environmental testing following Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) cover-up | ACFN

• ECCC’s Fisheries Act finding confirms worst fears of residents, contradicts statements made by the Alberta Energy Regulator and Premier Smith | ACFN

• ACFN STATEMENT on ongoing tailings disaster at Imperial Oil’s Kearl site: "ACFN representatives were finally granted access to the spill site on the north side of the Kearl tailings pond. What we observed was worse than what anyone anticipated. | ACFN

Social Media Posts

Unbranded graphics and sample tweets are available here.

Indigenous nations are appearing at the ENVI Standing Committee today to speak to the ongoing toxic tailings leak at Imperial Oil’s Kearl site. Help us spread the word and send a message to Ottawa that we demand action and call on them to clean up toxic tailings!

Watch the live hearings at: www.ourcommons.ca/Committees/en/ENVI/StudyActivity?studyActivityId=12101301

Amplification details

Please tag impacted nations to keep their voices at the forefront of this disaster:

Twitter:
@ACFN_KaiTaile @468Fort @MikisewCreeGIR
@FortMetis @WLMNation @McMurrayMetis

Facebook:
@ACFNDLRM @FMFN468 @MikisewGIR @FortMcKayMetisNation @WillowLakeMetisAssociation @McMurrayMetis

Hashtags:

#IndigenousRights #KeepItInTheGround #ToxicTailings #ImperialOil #AlbertaEnergyRegulator #AlbertaTarSands #IndigenousClimateAction #WaterIsLife #CleanUpToxicTailings #ImperialOilDisaster

About

ABOUT KEEPERS OF THE WATER (keepersofthewater.ca): Keepers of the Water are First Nations, Métis, Inuit, environmental groups, concerned citizens, and communities working together for the protection of water, air, land, and all living things within the Arctic Ocean Drainage Basin.

ABOUT INDIGENOUS CLIMATE ACTION (indigenousclimateaction.com) Indigenous Climate Action (ICA) is an Indigenous-led climate justice organization guided by a diverse group of Indigenous knowledge keepers, water protectors and land defenders from communities and regions across so-called Canada.

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

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