A Place of Indigenous Strength

Flourishing through economic participation that shows a path forward for the rest of Canada and provides strength to our economy. Representing two paths – tradition and innovation, bridging history and the journey forward. A place of deep culture and tradition that goes back millennia, yet tied to a place of extraordinary natural resource development. While honouring the land, Indigenous Peoples are foundational to prosperity here, through leadership, pride, and a return to the Indigenous way of knowing.

Intention

Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo includes a large urban and rural Indigenous population. This website uses the term “Indigenous” respectfully to describe the original Peoples of the land (First Nations and Métis) The term “Indigenous” has been adopted by the provincial and federal government and used around the world.

Steeped in History

Life here celebrates time-honoured traditions, a natural and authentic way of life, and love for the land and water.

Records dating back as early as the 1700s highlight the Chipewyan and Beaver people who are indigenous to the Athabasca Region. In fact, recent archeological evidence indicates this area has been occupied by First Nations people for as long as 9,000 years. By the mid-1870s, many other people followed to make their home in the region, including the Cree, Métis and Euro-Canadians.

In 1788, a North West Company trading post was established on the southwestern corner of Lake Athabasca. Fort Chipewyan has existed there ever since and is the oldest European settlement in Alberta.

Indigenous people and culture are foundational to Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo—and have been for thousands of years. Today, our region's strong Cree, Dene, and Métis communities are rich in collaborative spirit and historical, cultural and economic importance.

To learn more about the history of Fort Chipewyan visit the Fort Chipewyan Bicentennial Museum.

A Historic partnership

Suncor signed agreements with eight Indigenous communities in the region to acquire all of TC Energy’s 15 per cent equity interest in the Northern Courier Pipeline Limited Partnership. This historic partnership includes Suncor, three First Nations and five Métis communities who will own a 15 per cent stake in this pipeline asset with a value of approximately $1.3 billion, which will provide long-term, stable revenues that will benefit the communities for decades to come.

The purchase of Northern Courier Pipeline will be completed by Astisiy Limited Partnership (Astisiy), which is comprised of Suncor and a partnership of the following communities:

Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation

Conklin Métis Local 193

Fort McKay Métis Nation

Fort Chipewyan Métis Local #125

Fort McMurray #468 First Nation

McMurray Métis

Chipewyan Prairie First Nation

Willow Lake Métis Nation

Learn More about the partnership here.

Indigenous Knowledge & Stewardship

Engaging local wisdom and respecting the Indigenous way of knowing is an important step in our journey forward together.

Syncrude's Reclamation Engagement Focus Group (REFG) was formed to gain better insight into local Traditional Environmental Knowledge (TEK) and to hear directly from people who are close to the land and the environment. Currently, the REFG consists of representatives from Fort McKay Métis Nation, McMurray Métis Local 1935, Fort McMurray First Nation and Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation, in addition to a group of Syncrude employees who represent integrated planning, community relations, operations support, and research and development.