Tar sand extraction impacting First Nation rights, Athabasca River

A new study that examined the impacts of tar sands operations on the Athabasca River and two aboriginal nations living downstream from those industries concluded oil sands operations are removing large amounts of water from the Athabasca River.
The withdrawals have impacted the lives of those living downstream negatively, creating shallow waters that are impassable in summer months, said the report. This then restricts access to traditional hunting and fishing grounds for the First Nations communities, activities protected under Treaty 8. The water is also being contaminated from the oil sands operations.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/301291#ixzz17ndGVM2nTar sand extraction impacting First Nation rights, Athabasca River