Keegan Richardson walks back to his family's camp at Whitebeach Point to let the others know help is needed to pull boats in. The area has been used traditionally by Yellowknives and Tlicho for generations. - photo courtesy of Norma Gauthier |
Whitebeach proposal draws criticism from NWT First Nations
Husky plans to test sand to include winter road, helipads, camp
Daniel Campbell
Northern News Services
Updated Monday, January 26, 2015
GREAT SLAVE LAKE
Husky Oil wants to do some exploratory drilling at Whitebeach Point on Great Slave Lake, an idea that is not sitting well with some people.
Yellowknives Dene First Nation Chief Ed Sangris said the band submitted a letter on Jan. 21 opposing the proposal by Husky Oil Operations Ltd. to drill 200 bore holes to test the silica at Whitebeach Point. He said the area is culturally and spiritually significant to the Yellowknives.
"There's a lot of our ancestors that have passed on and are buried over there," Sangris said.
"We don't want to have any development in the area. That's why we wrote a letter to say we cannot support the application."
Silica is used in the hydraulic fracturing process to keep fractures open. Whitebeach is one of the areas Husky is looking at as a source for the material.
Sangris said the he originally understood Husky would be drilling only 100 bore holes around Whitebeach Point. According to their current application to the Wek'eezhii Land and Water Board, Husky now plans to drill 200 holes, as well as set up a small camp, a winter road running from Highway 3 to the site and up to six helipads.
The Tlicho Government and North Slave Metis Alliance also submitted comments on the proposal. Both groups are concerned about drilling in the area, and are especially opposed to drilling in a proposed protected area called Dinàgà Wek'ehodì.
The traditional knowledge report submitted by the Yellowknives Dene also notes the area was the site of a significant battle between the Tlicho and Akaitcho in the 1820s. They recommend more detailed research take place if Husky ever moves beyond exploration.
In addition to their comments, the Yellowknives also submitted a preliminary traditional knowledge study on the area.
Until the Yellowknives settle their land claims with the Canadian government, Sangris said they're trying to limit development in their traditional territory, adding diamond mines in the NWT have already disturbed the land.
"When it comes out to final agreements, what land do we have left that hasn't been disturbed?" Sangris asked.
Norma Gauthier, a mother of three and teacher in Behchoko, said her family was shocked to read about the proposal in last week's News/North.
"I was quite emotional when I saw that. I mentioned it to my daughters, and they were like 'Why? Are they crazy?'" Gauthier said.
Gauthier said the area has been used by her family for generations and she wants her children to continue to enjoy it, undisturbed.
"Our answer is no, we don't want any drilling. We continue to lose wildlife, fish, caribou. Enough is enough. We see the south hurting. We don't need that," Gauthier said.
"A place like that, you need to take care of it. I love that you can't get there unless you have a boat. Knowing that if you don't have a road there it's even more preserved. You have to know the land and you have to know that area. That's teaching that you pass on to your children as well."
Gauthier spoke between sobs during her interview with News/North, worried her youngest son, at six months old, may not be able to experience Whitebeach Point before development begins.
"I had no idea that it would go this far."
Sangris said he would rather the proposal doesn't go forward but if it does, he hopes the board approves a more detailed environmental assessment at Whitebeach Point before any decisions are made on future development.
Although Husky approached the Yellowknives with the possibility of employment related to their exploration, Sangris said that needs to be weighed against the potential impacts to the area.
"That's a fine line that leadership has to walk. What do they do, do they side with economic benefits or do they stick with their environmental side and keep that area as pristine as possible? In this case ... with the diamond mines ... we've seen the devastation, we have to really seriously look at this project and see what the benefits are and how it'll be handled," he said.
Kim Guttormson, a spokesperson for Husky Energy, said the company would not comment further on their application, as it is before the board. Whitebeach Point is one of several potential sources the company is looking at as a potential silica source, she said.
The work would be exploratory at this stage and no actual fracking would be done on site, but Sangris said he wants to be careful about supporting anything to do to the controversial drilling method.
"We don't want to be contributing to fracking. We don't want to contribute to the damage to other parts of the territory," he said.
