8/13/2019 Lubicon Statement on Operation Frack Off

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Statement from the Lubicon Lake Nation on:

Operation Frack Off: Penn West Petroleum Ltd. Eviction

In light of Operation Frack Off: the Penn West eviction which began 3 days ago, the Lubicon LakeNation would like to tell you about our experience with the Alberta Government s version of

Consultation.

Following a meeting on November 19, 2012, just over a year ago, the Government of theLubicon Lake Nation met with Aboriginal Affairs Minister Robin Campbell to provide a response

to his Discussion Paperon Consultation

Chief Ominayak reminded the Minister that the Canadian and Albertan government had stillfailed to meet their obligations to the Lubicon in the form of Treaty as required by Canadian and

International Law

Chief Ominayak advised the Minister on behalf of Alberta, that the Alberta version ofConsultation would not be enough for the Lubicon, that we were under no obligation to share

our resources without a fair and proper settlement, and that effective immediately, our free

prior and informed consent would be necessary before any further development occurred on

Lubicon land

On January 16, 2013 the Lubicon Lake Nation took to the oilfield roads in our territory. Trafficwas restricted to single lanes and information about our history and legal standing was provided

to workers and visitors to our territory. At that time Chief Ominayak said Its time for industry

[and government] to recognize that we are awake and were not going to let this type of

exploitation continue around us without serious changes.

The Governments of Canada and Alberta responded to our strong challenge on consultation.Through an Indian Affairs agent they attempted to unilaterally re-write our governingdocuments, change our election code and redesign our membership list. After doing so, less

than a month later they held a fake electionin a neighboring First Nation and advised us that

our leadership had been changed. Within 3 days, the provincial register of Consultation Contacts

to reflect the puppet regime, and then gave verbal direction to all industry in our territory to

only discuss development with this Indian Act styled Band Counciland to restrict economic

development to local Lubicon people.

On May 30, 2013 the people of the Lubicon Lake Nation showed the Government what happenswhen their laws are followed, it resulted in the unanimous re-election of Chief Ominayak and his

Council, with a strong mandate to take a message forward: the Lubicon people are tired of being

ignored

On November 18, 2013 Lubicon citizens found Penn West Petroleum Ltd. clearing an access roadand lease for drilling and fracking in Lubicon territory, near one of their sacred lakes, home to an

ancient Lubicon community which is still inhabited today. The Lubicon requested a dialogue with

the company, who refused and offered only the position that work would continue regardless of

what the Lubicon thought about it.

8/13/2019 Lubicon Statement on Operation Frack Off

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As a result, on November 21, 2013 the Chief Ominayak and the Government of the Lubicon LakeNation issued a Notice of Trespass and Order to Vacate in accordance with two Lubicon statutes

and asked that Penn West comply with the orders willingly.

They did not comply! As a result the Lubicon Lake Nation people launched Operation FrackOff: the Penn West Eviction.

3 days ago dozens of Lubicon citizens began assembling at the Penn West construction site inrotation to prevent the construction from continuing with Lubicon consent. Despite threats of

arrest and removal, temperatures well below -20 degrees, the people have not wavered. This is

our resistance. Our people will not be ignored any longer. The Lubicon action needs volunteers

and witnesses! You can find us online atwww.StopTheGenocide.caand

www.LubiconLakeNation.ca ,or on facebook, or twitter under @LubiconNation. We are asking

for our brother and sister Nations to rise up with us, if you cannot visit our community, stand up

in yours! Its time to show these colonial governments what sovereignty really means.

Thank you so much for your support!

Cynthia Tomlinson, B.A.

Advisor, Lands & Negotitations

http://www.stopthegenocide.ca/http://www.stopthegenocide.ca/http://www.stopthegenocide.ca/http://www.lubiconlakenation.ca/http://www.lubiconlakenation.ca/http://www.lubiconlakenation.ca/http://www.stopthegenocide.ca/