Obsidian Energy seeks arrest of Woodland Cree Nation Chief and removal of blockade of oil company drill site

Published by Brent Patterson on May 15, 2024May 15, 2024

Photo by Brandi Morin: “RCMP [Royal Canadian Mounted Police] liaison officers were at the traditional camp set up by the Woodland Cree Nation at an Obsidian Energy oil & gas lease road earlier today [May 11].”

We have been following the social media posts and now this article in IndigiNews and Ricochet by journalist Brandi Morin.

Excerpt from Morin’s article:

“The Woodland Cree First Nation set up a new blockade earlier this month to prevent [Calgary-based] Obsidian Energy employees from accessing a drill site in Woodland Cree traditional territory near Peace River [in northern “Alberta”], after notifying the company last week that its expansion plan had been rejected by chief and council.

Approximately 100 Woodland Cree, surrounding First Nations members and even allied industry partners are occupying the blockade set up in the style of a traditional Cree camp along the Walrus industry road about 40 minutes east of Peace River, a key access route for Obsidian’s work operations.

Obsidian Energy obtained an injunction on May 6 against Woodland Cree First Nation and people occupying the blockade camp. The First Nation has denounced the company’s “intimidation tactics,” calling the company’s conduct “the worst we’ve ever seen.”

In the face of growing opposition, Obsidian CEO Steven Loukas flew into the area for scheduled talks with the Woodland Cree on Monday [May 13].

Shortly after 1 p.m., within an hour of talks breaking down, the Woodland Cree received an email indicating that the company intended to take legal action against the First Nation and ask the court to order the chief’s arrest.

That request was filed in court today [May 14]. The company is asking a judge to find the Woodland Cree First Nation and Chief Laboucan-Avirom in contempt of court for violating the injunction.

The company is also asking the court to issue an arrest warrant for Chief Laboucan-Avirom and other members of the nation, and hold them in jail until the blockade is removed.

RCMP officers have been present at the blockade but a liaison told IndigiNews and Ricochet that at this point they have no plans to enforce the injunction, instead preferring to facilitate “peaceful negotiations” between the two parties.

Obsidian are asking the court to order the RCMP to forego those efforts, enforce the injunction and start making arrests.”

To read the full article by Brandi Morin, go to Oil company asks judge to arrest and jail Cree chief leading ‘Alberta’ blockade (IndigiNews, May 14, 2024).

Tweet by Brandi Morin.