The Impact of Tar Sands Development on Indigenous Communities in Canada

As the toll of the tar sands on Indigenous communities grows, Canada continues to fail in its obligations to UNDRIP 🔗

For decades government and industry have been making decisions about tar sands development without the free, prior, and informed consent of impacted Indigenous communities. These decisions have had…

The text discusses the impact of tar sands development and tailings ponds on Indigenous communities in the Athabasca region of Canada, highlighting the failure of the Canadian government to obtain free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) from the affected Indigenous peoples. It emphasizes how the government's actions violate the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and its commitment to FPIC, as well as the potential environmental and health consequences of proposed measures. The text also calls for holding the government accountable to uphold its own laws and ensure Indigenous consent in decisions regarding tar sands and tailings ponds.

Tar sands development and tailings ponds have detrimental effects on Indigenous communities in the Athabasca region
The Canadian government fails to obtain free, prior, and informed consent from affected Indigenous peoples, violating UNDRIP
Proposed changes to the Fisheries Act that would allow treated tailings to be released into the Athabasca River are criticized for violating the principle of FPIC