First Nation blocks road over oilsands exploration dispute

CBC News, June 21, 2007 -- The Clearwater River Dene Nation in northern Saskatchewan says it's blocking a road to halt oil exploration on its traditional territory.

Chief Roy Cheecham said the blockade with heavy equipment went up on the road running through the reserve Thursday morning after negotiations with the company Oilsands Quest broke off.

Individuals and companies that the band doesn't "have a beef with" can move through, but the band "will see what happens" with Oilsands Quest, he said.

According to Cheecham, the terms the company offered for an exploration agreement fall short of industry standards, so he and his council unanimously rejected it.

"This is where we draw a line in the sand," Cheecham said. "We want equitable participation and equitable sharing."

The First Nation's lawyer, Jim Jodouin, said the province of Saskatchewan deserves the lion's share of the blame for the situation because it authorized the company's exploration activities without adequately consulting the First Nation.

However, Oilsands Quest CEO Chris Hopkins said the sticking point was that the First Nation wanted to have exclusive access to and control of all jobs in the area.

"The clearwater Dene were trying to marginalize the rest of the communities in the area," Hopkins said.

Hopkins said the blockade won't affect the company much, because people and equipment are already at the drilling site.

No one from the provincial government would comment on the blockade.

Clearwater River Dene Nation is about 600 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon.

Saskatchewan doesn't have any large-scale oilsands projects, but Oilsands Quest has said it's hopeful its exploration program in the northwest part of the province will be commercially viable.