October 1, 2026
News
October 1, 2026
Dear ACFN Members,
Today, Canada announced the designation of the proposed Pacific Link pipeline as a project of national interest. Chief and Council want to be clear: this announcement does not mean a pipeline will be built. The project remains a proposal, and significant work, consultation, and conditions must be addressed before it can proceed.
The announcement signals Canada and Alberta’s political commitment to advancing the proposal. It does not resolve the environmental concerns of our Nation, replace meaningful consultation, or establish that the project is acceptable to ACFN.
Our priority remains the protection of our lands, waters, wildlife, and the health of our people. Our Members live with the impacts of resource development at the point of extraction. Any consideration of this proposal must account for the additional pressures it could place on our territory, including the cumulative effects of existing and future development on the Athabasca River and the ecosystems that sustain our way of life.
Yesterday, Chief Adam joined the other Chiefs of the Athabasca Tribal Council in meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney. The Chiefs raised serious concerns about environmental protection and human health, and the Prime Minister acknowledged the importance of these issues to our Nations.
The Prime Minister invited our Nations to co-develop the conditions that must be met before the proposed project can proceed. He also committed to continued consultation and identified protection of the Athabasca River as a priority. Our next step is to confirm how that process will work and ensure ACFN has a meaningful role in shaping those conditions.
For ACFN, these commitments must become clear, enforceable requirements. We will insist on strong environmental protections, a thorough understanding of cumulative impacts, respect for our Treaty and Aboriginal rights, and accountability for the commitments made to our Nation.
Economic opportunities, including potential equity participation and revenue sharing, were also discussed. These discussions do not diminish our responsibility to protect our territory or replace the need to address environmental and health concerns.
We want to emphasize that participation in these discussions does not constitute ACFN’s consent to the proposed pipeline. It is an opportunity to assert our Treaty Rights, bring our concerns directly to decision-makers and hold Canada to its commitments.
This is the beginning of a process, and its outcome is not predetermined. Chief and Council will keep Members informed as discussions continue. Our responsibility is to protect our Nation, our Members, our Rights, our territory and the generations who will inherit the decisions made today.
Chief and Council
Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation