Fort McKay First Nation facts for kids
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| People | Dene Cree Métis |
|---|---|
| Treaty | Treaty 8 |
| Headquarters | Fort McKay |
| Province | Alberta |
| Land | |
| Reserve(s) | |
| Land area | 148.86 km2 |
| Population (2019) | |
| On reserve | 421 |
| On other land | 4 |
| Off reserve | 468 |
| Total population | 893 |
| Government | |
| Chief | Mel Grandjamb |
| Tribal Council | |
| Athabasca Tribal Council | |
| Website | |
| fortmckay.com | |
The Fort McKay First Nation (FMFN) is a First Nations government located in northeast Alberta, Canada. It includes five Indian reserves: Fort McKay 174, Fort McKay 174C, Fort McKay 174D, Namur Lake 174B, and Namur River 174A. The FMFN is part of Treaty 8 and works with the Athabasca Tribal Council. Its members have Cree, Métis, and Dene backgrounds. The traditional lands of the FMFN are in an area known for the Athabasca oil sands.
Contents
History of the Fort McKay First Nation
The Cree people have lived in the Hudson-James Bay area for a very long time. They slowly moved westward. We know from old pottery that the Cree were in the Lac la Biche region by the 1500s.
The Historic Voyageur Route
The traditional lands of the Fort McKay First Nation were once part of a very important travel route. This route, used by voyageurs (early travelers and traders), connected the rich Athabasca region to Hudson Bay. Famous explorers like David Thompson and George Simpson used this fur-trade route. It involved rivers like the Beaver River and a portage (a place where boats and goods were carried over land) called Methye Portage to reach the Athabasca River.
The Cree are one of the largest Indigenous groups in Canada. Early explorers and fur traders called them by many names, like Kristineaux or Kinisteneaux. Their territory stretched from the Hudson-James Bay area to the Rocky Mountains. In Alberta, their lands included the Beaver, Athabasca, and Peace River basins.
Tribal Council
The Athabasca Tribal Council helps represent the interests of several First Nations in northeast Alberta. These include the Fort McKay First Nation, Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, Chipewyan Prairie First Nation, Fort McMurray No. 468 First Nation, and Mikisew Cree First Nation. Together, these five First Nations are home to more than 5,000 Cree and Dene people.
Treaty 8
Treaty 8 is an important agreement signed on June 21, 1899. It was made between Queen Victoria and various First Nations in the Lesser Slave Lake area. The land covered by Treaty 8 is huge, about 840,000 square kilometers. This area is bigger than France! It includes northern Alberta, northeastern British Columbia, northwestern Saskatchewan, and a small part of the Northwest Territories. More agreements, called "adhesions," were signed later in places like Peace River Landing, Fort Chipewyan, and Fort McMurray.
Traditional Land Use
For many people in the Fort McKay First Nation, hunting and trapping are a big part of their traditional way of life. Because of this, keeping natural areas and animal populations healthy is very important for their community. The FMFN has worried about how many different activities (like oil sands development) can add up to harm the environment. This is called "cumulative effects."
They have asked that wildlife populations be protected. Animals like beaver, moose, and wood bison are especially important to the FMFN. Other important animals to watch out for include Black Bear, Fisher, Canada Lynx, and many types of birds and amphibians.
Environment
The "Frontier Mine" is a large mining project that would cover a huge area (24,140 hectares). It is planned to operate for about 50 years, from 2020 to 2070, including cleanup.
Water Concerns
The Fort McKay First Nation has concerns about the quality of groundwater, especially the McMurray Basal Water Sands Aquifer. This is an underground layer of water. They worry that using a lot of water for mining could harm this important water source. This aquifer is a key part of the water system in the area.
Moose Lake: A Special Place
Moose Lake is a very special and "sacred region" for the Fort McKay First Nation. It is seen as the community's "key cultural heartland." The community originally came from the Moose Lake area, which is about 64 kilometers northwest of Fort McKay. There are also old gravesites on their traditional lands there.
Moose Lake is actually two lakes: Gardiner Lake and Namur Lake. The Fort McKay community is surrounded by oil sands developments on three sides, with some mines as close as four kilometers away. Moose Lake is one of the last places where the air and water are still clean enough to drink directly from the lake.
Grand Chief Mel Grandjamb of the Fort McKay First Nation has said that they send hunting groups to Moose Lake every year. They also provide cabins for elders who want to go there. The local Métis community also uses Moose Lake for their traditional activities.
The First Nation started talking with the Alberta government in the late 1990s to protect Moose Lake. In 2014, the premier at the time, Jim Prentice, supported a plan to protect the lake. The band almost reached an agreement in 2018 to create a 10-kilometer protected area around the lake.
Oil Sands Projects Near Moose Lake
Several oil sands projects have been proposed or are operating near Moose Lake.
- Brion Energy's Dover Project: This project is a partnership between Athabasca Oil Corporation and a Chinese oil company, PetroChina. The FMFN tried to stop the Dover project. They asked for a 20-kilometer buffer zone around their traditional lands near Moose Lake. In 2013, the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) said the project would not have much impact. However, the Fort McKay First Nation appealed this decision. A judge later allowed them to appeal, suggesting the regulator might need to consider treaty rights.
- Prosper Petroleum Rigel Project: This project is run by Prosper Petroleum, a company started by experienced oil sands operators. Their Rigel Oil Sands Project is located just three kilometers from Namur Lake. Prosper Petroleum started drilling test wells near Moose Lake in 2013. In June 2018, Alberta's energy regulator approved this $440-million project. The Fort McKay First Nation has also appealed this approval to the Alberta Court of Appeal.
Images for kids
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Canada Saskatchewan relief map.png
Fur trade route: Fort McKay is located west of Methye Portage on the Athabasca River
