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PEHDZEH KI/WRIGLEY
After hours spent in discussion, representatives of both Pehdzeh Ki First Nation and Enbridge Pipelines Inc. agreed they'd made progress.

Pehdzeh Ki First Nation elder Alfred Williams, left, addresses representatives from Enbridge Pipelines Inc. while Chief Tim Lennie looks on during a community meeting about the oil spill held in Wrigley on Aug. 11. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

On Aug. 11, three Enbridge representatives attended a community meeting in Wrigley.

Approximately 30 residents including band councillors and elders gathered in the community gymnasium to listen to and question Enbridge about its May 9 oil spill and the actions that have been taken since then.

"I think they're understanding," said Chief Tim Lennie after the meeting.

"They are willing to further talk more."

Consultation was one of the primary issues raised by Pehdzeh Ki First Nation at the meeting. Consultation between Enbridge and the band has been poor, with the First Nation often hearing information after the fact, said Lennie.

As a result of the lack of a consultation process, the band has been missing out on opportunities to offer its services to help with the remediation. This has been a huge economic loss, said Brad Enge, an advisor for Pehdzeh Ki Contracting Ltd., one of the band's economic arms.

The band is entitled to participate in economic opportunities that take place on its traditional land, said Enge.

"They've been steamrolled by this process," he said.

"They've been ignored, marginalized and silenced."

The camp, trailers and infrastructure related to it that Rowe's Construction is currently providing was raised as one example of a service the band could have offered. The band could also have met a recent request sent to Rowe's for 20 trucks to haul contaminated soil, Enge said.

"It was never our intent to alienate this community," said Cynthia Hansen, the vice-president of Canadian operations with Enbridge.

Hansen said the company needs to do a better job of meeting the community's requirements for consultation and understanding its capacity. Enbridge has tried a number of consultation approaches and may now be in a position to move forward with the community.

"We may not have been effective but we've certainly been trying," she said.

At the meeting, Enbridge committed to holding follow-up meetings with Pehdzeh Ki Contracting Ltd. on possible economic benefits.

The issue of compensation was also raised during the meeting.

Wrigley resident Morris Moses said Enbridge should have arrived at the meeting with a cheque. After years of having the pipeline run practically through their backyard, Moses said the community doesn't have a skating rink, a pool or anything from Enbridge.

"You insulted us again by coming here empty-handed," he said.

"I wonder how many billions you guys pump through our yard."

Lennie said he is also interested in seeing what form compensation for the oil spill will take. Options include jobs for community members, money, training and business opportunities, he said.

Enbridge also needs to provide compensation for residents of Willowlake River and assist local hunters in relocating, said Lennie. The site of the oil spill was a preferred harvesting area.

During the meeting, Enbridge told residents its current plans include starting to remove contaminated soil from the site by Aug. 13 and transporting it directly to Zama, Alta. As permafrost melts, there's a potential for oil to migrate into areas that haven't been affected yet, something the company wants to avoid, said Ann Marie Tout, the Northern region manager of Enbridge Pipelines (NW) Inc.

The company is still waiting for approval to establish a storage area in the vicinity of the spill site so the rest of the soil can be gathered and moved in the fall or winter, said Tout.

A borrow site near Fort Simpson that will be used for backfill was approved during the week of the meeting.

Lennie raised concerns about the plans, noting that once again the First Nation hadn't been consulted before a plan of action had been made. He would also like to see the soil remediated on site in a process that would train and employ residents.

Hansen said Enbridge would have to examine the process Lennie had in mind before commenting.

Hansen said the predominant message Enbridge was taking from the meeting is that both sides have to work together to communicate better so the actions of both the company and the band lead to the best possible resolution for the spill.

"It was a great opportunity for us to meet with the community and progress consultations," she said.

In addition to agreeing to future meetings about economic opportunities, Enbridge also committed to bringing an expert to the band's annual general assembly at the end of the month to discuss health concerns and other technical questions related to the spill.

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