Fort McMurray region's Indigenous groups support oilsands mine, company tells review panel

The company that hopes to build a massiveoilsandsproject north of Fort McMurraysaysit has secured the support of all 14 Indigenous groups in the region.

On the first day of hearings before a joint-review panel, company officials said TeckResources Ltd. has signed participation agreements with theDene, Cree and Mtis communities whose traditional territories intersect with the proposed mine.

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The company's $20.6-billion Frontieroilsandsmine project is undergoing public hearings in Fort McMurraybefore the Alberta Energy Regulator and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency.

The mine's lease areas, 110 kilometres north of Fort McMurray, overlap with traditional Indigenous lands and the territory of the threatened Ronald Lake bison herd.

But the land for the mine, a total of 292 square kilometres, or an area about half the size of Edmonton, would not be disturbedall at once.

At Tuesday's hearing,Teckofficials announced the final Indigenous group from the region, the MikisewCree First Nation of Fort Chipewyan,hadsigned an agreement.

No company has ever obtained more such agreements before a public hearing to review the environmental andsocio-economicimpacts of an open-pitoilsandsmine, said KieronMcFadyen, vice-president of energy for the Vancouver-based company.

Chief: 'I used to be anti-development'

Archie Waquan, chief of the Mikisew Cree, told CBCNews the agreement marks a personal change for him.

"I think Teckhas learned fromSuncor and Syncrude and they want to do better," Waquan said. "I used to be anti-development. I have to say if I don't get on the train, I am going to be chasing the train."

Waquan would not divulge details about the agreement but said it would allow Indigenous groups to hold Teck to account if the company doesn't follow through on its promises to protect the environment.

Some of the region's Indigenous groups say they still have concerns about the project.

Waquansaid his First Nationwill call on the federal government to create a buffer zone around Wood Buffalo National Park and a protected area for the free-roaming Ronald Lake bison herd.

Teckofficials told the panel the company will support adding those requirements to its application.

Bullying Indigenous groups?

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During cross-examination Tuesday, Indigenous groups in the Northwest Territories argued they weren't properly consulted about the project.

McFadyen said given that theKt'odeeche First Nation and the Northwest Territory MtisNation are so far from the proposed mine, the company saw no need to sign agreements with those groups.

When the joint-review panel finishes its five-week public hearing it will submit a report to the federal minister of environment and climate change.

As of Monday, the panel had 200 working days before that report is due.

Greenpeace's MikeHudema, whose group opposes the project, accusedTeckof bullying Indigenousgroups intoside deals.

Hudemasaid many communities were forced to compromise because they know regulators have never rejected anoilsandsapplication and will likely approvethis one.

"That's not living up to our commitment to Indigenous peoples and Indigenous reconciliation,"Hudemasaid. "When they feel forced into a decision they don't want to make."

Connect with David Thurton, CBC'sFort McMurraycorrespondent, onFacebook,Twitter,LinkedInor email him atdavid.thurton@cbc.ca