Royal society report on tar sands ignores traditional knowledge

Indigenous Peoples, Community Members and Allies raise concerns.

, by Indigenous Environmental Network

The Royal Society of Canada report on the tar sands released today, spurred concern by directly impacted communities and allies today as conclusions were put forward around the impacts of tar sands development within the region.

“With data coming from primarily government and industry sources, this report will likely lead to further inaction on addressing the concerns of community members who live in fear of drinking their water or from consuming traditional foods or medicines," said Clayton Thomas-Muller, Tar Sands Campaigner of the Indigenous Environmental Network. “This situation violates International Human rights laws and Canada’s own constitutional laws pertaining to First Nations rights."
The report seeks to come to conclusions on the extent and toxicity of air and water pollution but those conclusions are based primarily on data from industry and RAMP, the government body the panel completely condemns in other sections of the report. The report also tries to draw conclusions about elevated cancer rates in Fort Chipewyan without ever talking to the Indigenous communities, or incorporating Indigenous Traditional Ecological knowledge.

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