Jackpine opposition expensive for Athabasca Chipewyan

The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation hasasked the Federal Courtto declare Ottawa's approval of theJackpineMine expansion unlawful, but not everyone agrees going back to courtis the best course of action.

TheJackpineMine Expansion was approved in December, but the ACFN says Canada doesn't have the right to make that call alone.

On Jan. 3, the First Nation filed documents asking for a review of the decision, saying thatCanada failed to follow basic rules of consultation.

It follows the Supreme Court of Canada's refusal, last April, to hear the ACFN's bid to block a ruling on the expansion.

At least one First Nationsoilsandsworker says theACFNshould holda vote to see who supports the latest legal action.

Some say getting tied up in court battles is a waste of money.

"They see that fundamental promise made in the treaties is not being honoured and they have no other recourse but the courts," said LarryInnes, legal counsel for theACFN.

"But it's a terrible shame, and certainly a very expensive one, for Canadiansto continually go back to the courts with the same question governments want to do something, but they have to ask aboriginal people."

JennyBiem,lead lawyer for the First Nationsays the government's put nothing in place to manage the project's impacts, Including irreversible damage to wetlands and wildlife.

The First Nation already spent over a million dollars on submissions to the joint review panel last November.

"Sothey went through, spent all that money and were told that Canada would rely on the findings and recommendations of the joint review panel to structure their consultations withACFN," said Biem. "That has not happened to date, so now we are having to go back to court."

That could endin further costs. NeilYoung's tour "Honour the Treaties" is helping foot the legal bill.

The goal is to raise $75,000 for legal defence costs. So far, close to $60,000 has been raised.

The deadline for the federal government to respond to the judicial review is Friday.A hearing is expected to be held later this year.

Athabasca Chipewyan Chief Allan Adam says some youth are getting restless and want to block Highway 63 the main artery to theoilsands.