Hundreds of First Nations leaders and allies from across North America gathered in Fort McMurray Saturday to take part in a walk to raise awareness about oilsands developments.
More than 250 people walked 13 kilometres through oilsands operations known as the Syncrude Loop, in an effort to bring awareness to what they say are the destructive impacts of oilsands projects and pipelines on communities and the environment.
Organizers say the event is not a protest, rather it's a call for the healing of the land and its people.
“This is about building community amongst those who are impacted negatively by the industry and it’s about the ability for us to build that community and those linkages and connections to support each other as we go on our journey,” said Eriel Deranger with the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation.
“A lot of people said ‘I can’t believe how bad it is here’, ‘I can’t believe communities live with this’, ‘the pollution is terrible.’”
This is the third Healing Walk and the first time participants came from outside Alberta.
Organizers extended the invitation to people across North America, so they could take a look firsthand at oilsands developments.
“There is a lot of tar sands activism and action that is happening across North America but many of these people have actually never visited the actual tar sands or seen some of the developments first hand so we decided it was time they see some of the development firsthand but meet some of those people that live with this as a reality every single day,” Deranger said.
The walk is organized by Keepers of the Athabasca, a network of First Nation, Metis and allied communities along the Athabasca River.
