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The shale gas project in Wôlinak receives support
Marc Rochette
Marc Rochette
Le Nouvelliste
Involved in a shale gas pilot project with the company Questerre, the Abenakis of Wôlinak Council has just received support from the Aboriginal Resource Council of Canada.

Representing more than 130 First Nations who have a direct interest in energy production, this organization recalls the intention of the Quebec government to prohibit the exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons in the province.

"First Nations across Canada have the right to self-determination and that right includes the ability to generate revenue from the resources within their territory," said Chief Brady O'Watch, vice-chairman of the council. 'IRC (Indian Resource Council) and Chief of Carry the Kettle First Nation, Saskatchewan.

“We have followed and continue to follow with great interest the intention of the Quebec government to prohibit all energy production without regard to Aboriginal rights and existing treaties,” he warns.

The proposed energy center will produce clean energy, including zero-emission gas, and will use new carbon recycling technology. The development will also assess the potential for carbon dioxide sequestration as well as the production of clean hydrogen.

“The zero-emission energy center project is in line with the desire of the Abenakis of Wôlinak and the people of Quebec to protect the environment and reduce emissions. And it is an important source of income that the Abenakis badly need to achieve their goal of self-sufficiency,” adds Chief O’Watch.

“For First Nations who have hydrocarbon reserves on their territory, it is imperative that provincial and federal policies do not abrogate or interfere with the right of Indigenous communities to develop and benefit from these assets,” adds IRC President Stephen Buffalo.

According to him, the ban announced by the Government of Quebec to produce energy from resources constitutes a clear violation of ancestral and treaty rights.

“And the IRC will do everything in its power to support the Abenakis in their desire to develop their economy in the way they deem best for their nation,” he said.

For the Chief of the Abenakis of Wôlinak, Michel Bernard, true reconciliation will begin when the First Nations can develop their own economy to ensure their prosperity and stability and when they can participate fully and entirely and in a meaningful way in the Quebec economy and Canadian. "Our project with Questerre will help achieve this goal," he says.

Favorable poll

In addition, the Association de l'énergie du Québec (AEQ) has released the results of a survey which show that Quebecers are overwhelmingly in favor of natural gas projects in partnership with Aboriginal communities.

These data are part of a Léger survey conducted in Quebec in October with more than 2,800 respondents from several regions. Seventy-two percent of people surveyed answered yes when asked if the Quebec government should allow First Nations to participate in a natural gas pilot project.

“The government has always said it would allow development if there is social acceptability. I wonder how we can seek more acceptability when there is almost no opposition in Quebec to the respectful, full and complete participation of the First Nations, ”points out President Éric Tetrault.

In addition to social acceptability, the AEQ recalls that the Quebec government is required to respect the principle of self-determination of Indigenous peoples as recognized by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Framework for the Recognition and government's implementation plan adopted last June.

This principle clearly states that indigenous peoples have the right to natural resources on their ancestral lands to ensure their development and prosperity.

The AEQ is aware that this agreement between Questerre and the Abenakis of Wôlinak Council comes at a time when the Quebec government is considering tabling a bill to ban the production of hydrocarbons in Quebec.

It once again asks the government to make arrangements to move forward with pilot projects for CO2 capture and storage and zero-emission natural gas production, zero drinking water, zero toxic fluids and with different method than fracturing.