By Sonal Gupta, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Canada’s National Observer Indigenous leaders in Alberta say unchecked oilsands development is devastating their land and could be linked to rising cancer rates in their communities. The leadership is calling on the government to fund independent environmental and health assessments and reject the “treat and release” plan for oilsands tailings until safety can be guaranteed. “We’re tired of being the guinea pigs of Canada,” said Billy-Joe Tuccaro, chief of the Mikisew Cree First Nation at a press conference on Monday. “If the water isn’t able to be treated and reused in the mines and for development, why is it good enough for us to drink?” Tuccaro said his community depends on drinking water and fish from Lake Athabasca and the Athabasca River but…
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