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Tsuut'ina formalizes SR1 opposition

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Chief Lee Crowchild announced the Tsuut'ina First Nation's formal opposition to the Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir July 11. Photo by Ben Sherick/Rocky View Publishing

The Tsuut’ina First Nation is the latest voice to formally join the chorus of opposition to the Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir (SR1).

“Yesterday, with all that knowledge and data before us, and understanding full well the emotions this issue generates, our council took the forceful and final step in our deliberations,” Chief Lee Crowchild said during a July 11 announcement at Tsuut’ina First Nation’s council chambers. “After discussion, we passed a Band Council Resolution formally, and finally opposed SR1.”

According to Crowchild, the First Nation had “done [its] homework” in studying the proposed flood mitigation solution, consulting technical experts and sourcing traditional knowledge as it took a “thoughtful, reasoned and measured” approach to assess the reservoir. As information accumulated, he said, the First Nation has grown more concerned.

“This is not a constructive project,” Crowchild said. “It is a destructive one. SR1 demands the destruction of one community to protect another.”

Tsuut’ina was particularly concerned by SR1’s potential impact on groundwater, the accumulation of silt in the dry dam and the possibility of water backing up onto the First Nation’s land when the reservoir is used, he said.

SR1, which is intended to provide flood mitigation to the City of Calgary by protecting it from a flood on the scale of that which occurred in 2013, has been formally opposed by Rocky View County, the Springbank Community Association, the Bragg Creek Community Association and a group of impacted landowners.

According to Crowchild, Calgarians “should be as concerned about the environmental impacts of this project” as those who oppose it.

“We know what you went through in 2013,” he said. “It was terrible, and it was, in fact, preventable. We stand shoulder to shoulder with you in wanting flood mitigation, but that will only happen if we work together.”

Minister of Transportation Ric McIver responded to Tsuut’ina’s announcement with a statement saying the provincial government remains committed to providing flood mitigation for Calgary and ensuring there are no delays to the regulatory review of SR1.

“We understand that some impacted First Nations, stakeholders and local residents have expressed concerns and opposition to the project, and we take those concerns seriously,” he said. “We have been engaging with many communities about this project, including the Tsuut’ina First Nation. Extensive consultation and engagement are key parts of the rigorous regulatory review process.”

However, according to Crowchild, consultation by the province has been insufficient.

“There are a number of different stories about whether or not Tsuut’ina has been adequately consulted,” Crowchild said. “Let me put that issue to rest right now. We have received hundreds of pages of Freedom of Information [and Protection of Privacy] documents from the province, and I can tell you that Tsuut’ina is hardly mentioned, and only as an afterthought.

“Consultation is one thing, but we have to give our consent. Right now, we don’t give our consent to this.”

Crowchild noted the First Nation was not opposed to development on or near its land, saying it was pro-development and supported flood mitigation.

“But…we insist on a few things,” he added. “First, that it be sustainable. It is our sacred duty to our ancestors, elders, youth and generations to come to preserve and protect this land and the land that surrounds us.”

He also said no development should threaten the integrity of treaty-protected land.

Crowchild suggested work on SR1 should cease immediately, and the province should begin investigating other flood mitigation options.

“My message to Premier [Jason] Kenney is this – despite the assurances we have received from bureaucrats, consultants and others, I can assure you that this is the wrong project for Southern Alberta,” he said.

In the meantime, Crowchild said, his duty was to his people and their land, and he would “use every tool at my disposal to stop SR1.” He added he intends to instruct lawyers to “look at all legal options, depending on the response.”

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