Sacrificial Zone or Living on Borrowed Time: Oil Exploitation in Northern Alberta and its Impact on the Athabasaca Chipewyan First Nation Community

This research study explored the vulnerability and adaptive capacity of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN) to the impacts of oil extraction in northern Alberta. The ACFN is one of many Aboriginal communities that have lived in northern Alberta for centuries. Historically, the community has relied on their natural environment for sustenance. The sources of livelihood for the ACFN have been affected at various levels by the negative impacts of oil extraction activities in the region. Such negative impacts on the environment and the people have exposed them to vulnerability issues, namely health and socioeconomic issues, and have equally challenged their ability to respond. Using a semi-structured interview method, the investigator collected and analyzed the perceptions of ten members of the ACFN community about the impacts of oil extraction on their community and how the members of the community have responded. The findings corroborate existing views that oil extraction activities in northern Alberta have caused not only environmental disruptions but also have disrupted the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation's traditional socioeconomic practices due to pollution and contamination of rivers, lakes and the forest. Oil extraction has also resulted in some negative health issues in the community. In terms of coping and adaptive capacity, there is an unequal distribution of revenue; an inadequate institutional framework; loss of economic opportunity; low technological capacity and inadequate socioeconomic capital which resulted in low coping mechanisms. There is a growing trend of education and skills acquisition which contributes to an increasing level of coping mechanisms and adaptation for some members of the community. Based on the reflections of respondents, age is a determining factor in who acquires education to increase their coping possibilities. Also, family unity, social control and cohesion in the ACFN are hinged on the economic security of family members, particularly the breadwinners.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (MA)

Level thesis:degree_level

Master's

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Justice Studies

Grantor dc:publisher

Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina

Year dc:date.issued

2015

Author dc:creator

• Mbah, Chris Ekene

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Hurlbert, Margot

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Diaz, Harry (Polo)
• Ruddell, Richard

Language dc:language.iso

en

DOI

https://doi.org/10.82465/4219

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:uregina.scholaris.ca:10294/6842