Oilsands Quest, Clearwater River Remain Far Apart
Wednesday, August 01, 2007 at 13:33
It doesn’t sound like a northern Saskatchewan chief and an Alberta oilsands exploration executive will be mending fences anytime soon.
Clearwater River Dene Nation chief Roy Cheechum and Oilsands Quest CEO Christopher Hopkins have been exchanging barbs in the media over stalled negotiations between the two sides.
The company has been exploring Saskatchewan’s oilsands potential on land the band considers its traditional territory.
The band erected a blockade to the company’s drilling area north of La Loche for a few weeks in late June and early July over concerns about what the company was prepared to offer in an impact benefit agreement.
Last week, Hopkins told the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix that sort of situation will never happen again, and that’s why the company is relocating a camp in northwest Saskatchewan to the Alberta side of the exploration area.
Hopkins also says he has no desire to talk with Cheecham.
Cheecham says he’s not trying to re-establish communication lines, either. He says he’s focusing his energy on talks with the province about firming up regulations concerning the duty to consult and accommodate First Nations.
The band argues Oilsands Quest is not offering a deal that’s in line with industry standards. The firm says the band is asking for too much, at the expense of other interest groups in the area.
Beauval mayor Alex Maurice says he will be meeting with Oilsands Quest in Calgary on Friday to talk about how Metis groups can benefit from the company’s activities.
As for the tension between the company and Clearwater River, Maurice says cooler heads need to prevail.
He says if Clearwater River is not careful, it will gain a reputation in business circles of being difficult to deal with.
Maurice also says it’s critical Metis groups be allowed to take advantage of the opportunities Oilsands Quest — but he wants to see that done in partnership with First Nations in the region.