ALL PHOTOS COPYRIGHTED JIMMY JEONG 2011

In 1899 the Canadian government missed the isolated community of the Lubicon Cree, whose traditional land is around Lake Lubicon in northern Alberta, Canada. They have never surrendered the rights to their land and there is an ongoing treaty dispute. Amnesty International has called on Canada to settle these disputes and the United Nations Commission on Human Rights has found Canada in violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. There is no running water to the community and there is an increased encroachment of oil and gas development in the area.

On April 28, 2011, 28,000 barrels of light crude oil spilled from Plains Midstream Canada’s 45-year-old Rainbow pipeline less than 12km from the community. The spill traveled down and settled into a beaver dam 3kms away from Lubicon Lake, the traditional hunting ground of the Lubicon Cree Nation. The school in Little Buffalo was closed when teachers and children nearby complained of nausea and dizziness. No one from government or the oil company came to visit to warn of the dangers of the spill.

On May 5, 2011 I arrived on scene in the area to document the massive oil spill. Over the course of the next nine days, returning a second time, I've tried my best to tell the story. This first post is a brief introduction. It has definitely been a struggle to try to edit the photos and tell this complicated story. I hope to post further stories in the coming weeks.

There are two chiefs in Little Buffalo. There has been controversy over the leadership in Little Buffalo. Some residents are frustrated with what they describe as self-proclaimed Chief for life Chief Bernard Ominayak. But they did describe him as a fearless and hard-fighting leader during struggles in the '80s. I don't know enough to go further into this. There had been a recent election in which Steve Noskey was elected as the chief, but the election has been disputed and is not recognized by the Canadian government. When I was in Little Buffalo, I saw first-hand how this has led to further confusion and miscommunication. During a town hall meeting when they were trying to decide whether or not it was safe to reopen the school, Chief Noskey and the school principal had very little information on whether it was safe. Meanwhile, the Alberta government and the media write that there has been communications with the band leaders (not always mentioning the names of who they contacted). 

The community has a population of around 300, with many families with small children. The land around Little Buffalo is rich in varying eco-systems and is criss-crossed by waterways and soft marsh and lakes. And rightfully the people were worried that the contamination could easily leak into nearby lakes and streams affecting much of northern Alberta.

  I feel that Lillian Whitehead, who teaches Cree at the Little Buffalo school, is the heroine of my story. She welcomed us into her home, shared meals, and shared stories. On my first meeting, she told me that every horror story of residential schools I've heard is true. Her warm smile quickly faded as she went into her own thoughts. When her husband was 38, he committed suicide and as a single parent she raised their six children. She put herself through college and saved to buy her home.

She recalled a recent dream she had as several of us huddled around in her kitchen, including several of her grandchildren. In her dream she was visited by a bear which she wrestled. Growing more and more weary, she held on to the bear as it struggled in her arms. She says that the bear will visit you and nudge you in your dreams to remind you to keep helping your community. Lillian admitted that she had been getting so tired after so many years of trying to help her people, with constant battles and problems. But she was glad that she had been reminded to keep going.

Residents in the community say that the water levels have decreased dramatically. They blame the oil industry of siphoning the water for use in their operations. I toured some of the oil operations last year near Fort McMurrray. When I heard that they used non-drinkable water for much of their in-situ operations, at the time, I thought nothing of it. But now, I realise that even this water is part of this land and eco-systems. There is an affect on the land and animals - traditional hunting lands are also effected. Felix Noskey, 84, has been hunting in his traditional hunting grounds for decades. He told us that he was able to support his family, buy his house and stay out of debt from the proceeds of his hunting. But he says that he sees signs of contamination on his trap-lines and that the animal migration patterns are being affected. Lloyd Noskey, has been taught the traditional ways of hunting and skinning animals by his father Felix, but is the only one of the children continuing in this path. Several Christian organizations have come and left this community of Little Buffalo throughout the years. A cemetary in Little Buffalo. Seismic cutlines go as far as the eye can see and from the air this interlaced grid can be seen all through northern Alberta. The full effects of this type of oil exploration on the habitat is yet to be determined.