Reproduced for your information is a news release by Norcen Energy Resources Limited announcing its intention to reopen oil wells on Lubicon traditional territory, as well as some media reports on Norcen's decision. On October 28, 1989 Chief Ominayak wrote Prime Minister Mulroney notifying him that the Federally-owned oil company Petro Canada would no longer be allowed to operate in unceded Lubicon territory without first obtaining retroactive operating leases and permits from the Lubicon people, respecting Lubicon wildlife management and environmental protection laws, and arranging to pay the Lubicon people royalties on resources extracted -- both past and future. The Chief gave Petro Canada 30 days to comply and indicated that "Failure to meet any of these conditions will make involved projects subject to removal as unauthorized developments on unceded Lubicon territory". (Although there are many other oil companies operating on unceded Lubicon land under Provincial Government leases and licences, Petro Canada was targeted because of its Federal Government ownership. Broader assertion of jurisdiction, the Lubicon people felt, would only precipitate non-productive confrontation with a Provincial Government which was at this point at least prepared to talk about a negotiated settlement.) On November 24th representatives of Petro Canada advised Chief Ominayak that they would be shutting down Petro Canada wells in the traditional Lubicon area rather than recognize unceded Lubicon jurisdiction. They also told the Chief that they would be so advising other oil companies with whom they hold joint interests in the Lubicon area -- primarily Norcen Energy Resources Ltd. On November 27th representatives of the RCMP advised the Lubicon people that they were setting up a special detachment in the Lubicon area to protect Petro Canada interests in the traditional Lubicon territory. On November 29th Norcen announced that it would be shutting down wells which it owned jointly with Petro Canada rather than recognize unceded Lubicon jurisdiction. In a prepared statement Norcen President Edward Battle said "The compelling reason for the shutdown is the safety of Norcen and service company employees". (For a more detailed account of the above see Topic 203: Lubicon Confrontation Next??? of Oct. 5, 1990 in this conference.) ***************************************************************************** Norcen Energy Resources Limited News Release Friday, November 30, 1990 Attention: Business Editors SHUT-IN WELLS NOT HELPING LUBICON NEGOTIATIONS CALGARY: Norcen Energy Resources Limited plans to resume production over the next two weeks from 18 oil wells in the Lubicon Lake area of northern Alberta which have been shut-in since November 30, 1989. The Lubicon Indian Band and the federal and Alberta governments have been advised of Norcen's decision. The wells, operated by Norcen, were shut-in in response to the Lubicon Band's stated intention to dismantle operating wells on "unceded Lubicon territory" owned by Petro-Canada or in which Petro-Canada has an interest. The Band has said the action was taken in order to get a resumption of stalled land claim negotiations. Barry D. Cochrane, Norcen's Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer, said "the decision was made because the shut-in wells are not helping anyone -- the Band and both levels of government have said the shut- in wells, which are outside designated reservation lands, are having no impact on the negotiations which are stalled once more." Prior to being shut-in, production from the wells averaged 1,230 barrels of oil per day. Estimated foregone revenues since November 30, 1989, to date are $10.8 million, including $2.1 million in provincial royalties. Norcen's share of the shut-in daily production is 450 barrels and $3.2 million in foregone revenues. For further information: Ian Seph, Manager, Public & Government Affairs (403) 231-0106. ***************************************************************************** Calgary Herald, Sat., December 1, 1990 LUBICON WARN OF RENEWED STRIFE by Jim Cunningham (Herald Writer) Alberta could face a confrontation like last summer's armed standoff in Oka, Quebec., if resource companies don't stay off Lubicon land, the chief of the band has warned. "Anything is possible," Bernard Ominayak said Friday, following a decision by a Calgary oil company to reopen 18 shut-in oil wells in traditional Lubicon territory near Little Buffalo in northern Alberta. Norcen Energy announced Friday it would reopen the wells in the next two weeks. They were shut in November 1989 in response to Lubicon threats to dismantle them. The chief said he hoped a violent confrontation like the one on the Mohawk reserves in Quebec doesn't happen. One Quebec policeman died in that incident. But if companies such as Norcen and logging firms which have been operating in the area traditionally claimed by the band don't cease operations, the band may be forced to respond, he said. "We'll pick the time and place whenever we want to move," Ominayak said. Last weekend $20,000 worth of damage was done to equipment at the Buchanan logging camp, located in the Lubicon's traditional hunting area. Ominayak said an agreement reached two years ago with Premier Don Getty, which set aside 245 square kilometres of northern Alberta bush land for the band as a reserve, "has not been implemented in any way." And, he said, the federal government has done nothing since talks between Ottawa and the band broke down more than a year ago. Ian Seph of Norcen said the company has always co-operated with the Lubicon but keeping the wells shut wasn't helping negotiations between the band and the federal government. Norcen, which operates the wells for Petro Canada and other partners as well as itself, says $10.8 million in revenue has been lost since the shutdown. ***************************************************************************** CBC Radio News Broadcast (5:30 P.M.) Friday, November 30, 1990 Krysia Jarmicka, CBC News There could be another stand-off involving the Lubicon Indians in northwestern Alberta. Norcen Energy says it will soon re-open 18 wells in territory used for hunting and trapping by the Lubicon. The company shut down the wells nearly a year ago after the Indian Band threatened to take them apart. The Indians still say they'll do whatever they can do shut down the wells. Byron Christopher has the story. Byron Christopher, CBC News The Lubicons had threatened to take the wells apart to put pressure on the federal government. The Indians maintain their land claim, more than half a century old, has dragged on far too long. The problem is land ownership. The Indians claim they own their hunting territory, a 10,000-sq.-km area. But so does the Alberta Government. It is the Alberta Government that's given oil companies the green light to work in the area. Norcen says it decided to re-open the 18 wells because land claim talks were going nowhere. The company says having the wells shut down was not accomplishing anything. The question is: what are the Lubicons going to do now? That's what I put to Fred Lennarson, a Band advisor. Lennarson says the Lubicons will continue to oppose both the companies and the government. Fred Lennarson, Lubicon Advisor I think they're creating a situation kind of like Nazi-occupied France where the French resistance fighters couldn't engage the Nazi military machine. But there were things they could and did do. Christopher Ken Rostad is an Alberta Cabinet Minister who wears two hats. He's in charge of Indian Affairs and he's in charge of the Justice system here. Rostad is hoping nothing comes of this and that the Lubicon Indians do not interfere with the oil companies. Byron Christopher, CBC News, Edmonton. ***************************************************************************** CBC Radio News Broadcast (4:30 P.M.) Friday, November 30, 1990 Krysia Jarmicka, CBC News Trouble is brewing between the Lubicon Indians and a Calgary oil company. Norcen Energy Resources announced today it plans to re-open 18 oil wells on the Lubicons' traditional land. The wells were closed a year ago after the Lubicons threatened to take them apart. The Band was trying to pressure Ottawa to settle its land claim. Ian Seph, an official with Norcen, explained why the company decided to re-open the wells. Ian Seph, Norcen Energy Resources During the past year both levels of government and the Lubicon Band have said that the shut-in wells are having no positive impact on the negotiations. They're not helping the Lubicon negotiations. Jarmicka Norcen operates about 55 wells in the disputed territory. Its shut-in wells are jointly owned with Petro Canada. Norcen says the shut-in cost the two oil companies eleven million dollars in foregone revenues. Seph says Norcen may try re-opening the wells around the middle of next week. The Lubicons say they'll do everything in their power to protect their land. They say there are many oil wells spread out over a large area and it will be difficult for the police or the army to protect them all. ***************************************************************************** For more information contact web:car by e-mail or in writing Aboriginal Rights Support Group Committee Against Racism P.O. Box 3085, Station B Calgary, Alberta T2M 4L6