KAIROS Visit to Fort Chipewyan Seen as Successful

May 25, 2009, Fort Chipewyan - Residents of Fort Chipewyan are hailing the recent visit of a very distinguished group of church leaders from across Canada as successful.

KAIROS, a Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives delegation of Canadian church leaders, Indigenous and Southern partners are travelling in Alberta’s tarsands region to meet with affected communities. They departed Fort McMurray on Saturday morning and after a fly-over of the tarsands they continued to Fort Chipewyan where they spent one night. KAIROS will also meet with civil society groups, government and industry representatives during their stay in Alberta.

“We were moved by the tremendous hospitality of the people of Fort Chipewyan, but also deeply affected by their tremendous suffering. We listened intently to their experiences and carry that with us as we continue to reflect on the impacts of the tarsands,” said James Weisgerber, Archbishop of Winnipeg and President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Mikisew Cree First Nation member and community-organizer George Poitras said, “The community was very happy to host the church delegation. The values placed on protection of Mother Earth by our Indigenous peoples in Fort Chipewyan are very similar to the way we believe the church values stewardship of the Earth.

“The church delegation was not just any church delegation. There were three Bishops from different churches and other very prominent elected leaders of churches who were in attendance including three Indigenous guests from the B.C. First Nations, Nigeria and Ecuador who also represented Oilwatch International. So, we felt very honoured to host them but more important we felt confident that their visit and their subsequent actions in influencing further public support for the Fort Chipewyan challenges will be there.”

During the one day visit, the delegation were hosted to a lunch by community leaders and in the evening they were welcome by a community dinner where a screening of “Downstream” was viewed followed by a community discussion with the church leaders. On Sunday morning a ecumenical, multi-denominational Sunday service was held.

- 30 –

CONTACT:
George Poitras, Mikisew Cree First Nation
780.972.0017

Ed Bianchi, Executive Director, KAIROS
613.799.1995