Advocacy groups look to work together to oppose Crowsnest Pass coal mines
By Alexandra Noad - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on February 14, 2025.
Herald photo by Ian Martens
Chris Spearman, of the Water for Food group, holds a copy of the group's petition as he talks with Mountain Valley Child Society's Edna Little Mustache and Wynonna Smith following a media conference Thursday at the Galt Museum.Two advocacy groups opposed to coal mining in the Eastern Slopes addressed media and about a dozen allies on Thursday afternoon at the Galt Museum to share their stance on the issue and how they are tackling it.
The Piikani Mountain Valley Child Society and Water For Food groups are actively raising awareness of the potential problems the Grassy Mountain Coal Mine could cause.
The Mountain Valley Child Society is running a survey to find allyship of those against the proposed coal mine on the Piikani Nation.
Edna Little Mustache (Sitookitaayaaki – Centre Pole Woman), a member of the Mountain Valley Child Society, says she has a view of the Rocky Mountains outside of her kitchen sink window.
“It starts by Chief Mountain and it ends over at the Livingstone Range, Napi’s playground,” says Little Mustache. “That is my vision every morning, every night, every day I go out and I’m one to always capture(photos), I could never have enough pictures of the mountains, because right now they’re directing to take that mountain down.”
She adds she is a water protector and a guardian and feels it’s her duty to protect the land. She says the proposed coal mine is “destruction to mother earth.”
If the water is contaminated by selenium, Little Mustache says the animals who rely on the water from the Oldman River will be the first ones affected.
“All the animals who feed off of the water, the plants that are connected, the roots, the ground, get their nourishment, their sustenance from the water and if that water is poisoned, those animals are first to go.”
Little Mustache cited that 618 out of the 635 First Nation communities do not have clean drinking water and she is worried for Albertan First Nations joining that number.
She adds that instead of having people come to “fix the problems” she would much rather a collaborative approach to issues.
“Now we’re coming back working together and this is how it should be, included all the time, included in everything because we’re left out (and) it seems like everyone comes to us when the proverbial thing hits the fan,” says Little Mustache.
The Piikani Nation is one of many who have been hit hard by the opioid crisis. Little Mustache says there’s an entire demographic missing from the survey, and it’s those who have been taken by drugs.
“There’s a demographic missing in our survey and that’s the centre,” says Little Mustache. “That’s the moms and the dads this opioid has taken away from us, they’ve created orphans.”
Little Mustache adds that there’s a lot of children who care about the land and that’s who she’s speaking for, because they don’t have someone to stand up for them.
She believes this is “history repeating itself” and Albertans will have to pay the price when Northback mining company leaves.
“The employees are the ones that benefit, not us. We’re not going to benefit, the ones in the opposition.”
The Blood Tribe Chief and Council has recently stated their opposition to the mine and Little Mustache is hoping Siksika Nation will do the same.
Mountain Valley Child Society has written a letter to Premier Danielle Smith in regard to their stance on the Grassy Mountain Coal Mine.
The Water for Food group has also written to the premier voicing their concerns and are running a petition, which the group says has already received thousands of signatures. They say they will be collecting signatures until the end of the month, when they hope to have the petition presented to the Alberta Legislature.
“Water availability for irrigation and two-thirds of Canada’s irrigated farmland is in the Oldman River basin. We have a tremendous agri-food industry because of irrigation and water management,” says Water for Food spokesperson Chris Spearman.
The group has been outlining their concern that the potential negative effects of coal mining will have a detrimental impact on the agri-food industry downstream.
“Those are the serious issues that we wrote and talked to the premier about in-depth. We asked questions and we hope that we’re going to get answers. Albertans deserve answers.”
Little Mustache is calling on everyone to come together to oppose the coal mines.
“I would really appreciate if we all had a meeting of minds and all stand up and say no coal… back in the day it was no to drugs. Well no to mining. Let’s just say no.”
25-24
Let’s hope they are successful!
Agreed, Guy Leyhbridge. Opening up intensive open pit coal mines on the eastern slopes risks access to clean water. The livestock and food processors should take note. Coal mining will leave us an expensive mess.
Albertans would have better odds being ahead at a casino compared to coal mining.
What happened to Corb Lunds support of this?
Lethbridge and surrounding area: If you like your water supply arsenic, cadmium, and selenium free, and you know that when the coal runs out (which it will), foreign investors will take the money and run, leaving towns in peril and the mountains in ruin, then you can show your support at this benefit concert March 1 at the Empress Theatre in Fort Macleod.
Join musicians and speakers as they gather to raise awareness and funds to protect the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains. With a full line-up of amazing artists: Boots Graham, Charlie Ewing, Corb Lund, El Mule, Greg Herman, John Wort Hannam, Lonni Robley, Malcolm MacLean, Morgan Klaiber, Reese Klaiber, Riley Miller, and Ryan Fritz; joined by the spectacular Western Sounds house band of Trevor Christensen, Catherine Robertson, Keith Rodger, and Nik Winnitowy, it will be an outstanding show. All funds raised will go to the Livingstone Landowners and Pekisko groups, two groups who have been tirelessly advocating for the protection of our mountains ranges and water.