First Nations' Cancer Deaths Coverup

Two northern Alberta First Nations have released this week a scientific health study regarding why so many of their peoples are dying of cancer.

Killing humans and Mother Earth ‘In the most violent way”

Downstream of massive oil sands smoke plumes and tailing ponds in the northern part of Alberta, known as the the tar sands boom town, the First Nations’ people are dying from cancer and other environmental diseases. The survivors there have reported on their new health study, one that implicates the growth of the oil sands industry in many serious Aboriginal health concerns, including cancer and death.

“I don’t know what it is that they’re hiding.  What’s causing these cancers?  Why is it so hard that they cannot take it out of their production, so it’s not hurting anyone or killing anyone?” asked Chief Steve Courtereille of the Mikisew Cree First Nation at an Edmonton press conference.

Photo Credit: Chief Steve Courtereille of the Mikisew Cree First Nation, The Globe and Mail

The coverup? Oil sands pollution is contaminating the First Nations peoples’ wild food. Those wild foods include: moose, ratroot, duck, wild mint, spruce gum, pickerel, caribou, and Labrador tea.  The people can no longer eat fish from the Athabasca River due to government health warnings.

The new scientific study states the region’s “country food” contains elevated levels of toxic metals and carcinogens, that Mikisew Cree and Athabasca Chipewyan First Nations’ members traditionally eat.  

The research was partly funded by Health Canada and reviewed by federal scientists.

“One thing most striking… is that both province and federal governments refuse to do anything about [the high rates of cancer].  Even though the pressure is escalating,” said ACFN Chief Allan Adam.

“It is a final colonial pillage that’s going on right now,” author Naomi Klein says in the powerful video below, Tar Sands Healing Walk, by Fierce Love Films.

Self harm and harm of others are symptomatic of all addictions. We are killing each other and Mother Earth with our addiciton to fossil fuels.

“We are being brainwashed by the Conservative government that everything is ok.  It’s not,” Cheif Adam has said. 

Source: Vancouver Observer, YouTube