Many don’t realize it, because in our humble Canadian way we don’t really promote it, but we have our own “Standing Rock” activists equivalent and our own #NODAPL right here in Alberta.
The group is call the “Keepers Of The Athabasca” and their mission, to quote, is
“To unite the peoples of the Athabasca River and Lake Watershed to secure and protect water and watershed lands for ecological, social, cultural and community health and well being”
This watershed is directly impacted by the Alberta oilsands projects, and it is showing the effects of cumulative pollution. My own husband and his ancestors once made their living by trapping and commercial fishing Lake Athabasca in northern Alberta, and have seen first hand the changes since first the Bennett Dam and then the oil sands production have wreaked upon their traditional way of life. Here is an except from my husbands book “Outrunning The Wind” in which he talks about his life as a young Metis boy living on the trapline:
“It is unfortunate that today the Athabasca Delta has been destroyed by the effects of the Bennett Dam in British Columbia, and also, to some degree from industrial pollution from southern oil sands operators. Trappers who years ago drank the waters from the Athabasca river and lake now must buy bottled water distilled in France. As they say “water, water everywhere, and not a drop to drink”. How true this saying is for the trappers and residents of the Athabasca Delta.”
This is my brother-in-law, Ray Ladouceur speaking with the Edmonton Journal regarding how this has impacted the area downstream from the Alberta oilsands:
My newest jewelry collection “Water is Life” will be available April 1st, 2017 featuring pieces that fit every budget from simple wooden pieces to Malachite, pearls and diamonds, with turtles being the focal of each piece.
10% of all sales from this collection will be donated to the Keepers of the Athabasca to help support the important work they do and bring attention to what is happening in our own backyard!
You can find out more about the Keepers Of The Athabasca and their sister groups by visiting their website here: Keepers Of The Athabasca
Blue World Treasures 