Piikani members pray for healing of Crowsnest Lake amid fish consumption advisory

A fish consumption advisory remains in effect for Crowsnest Lake. The Alberta government says this is due to selenium levels from old coal mines.

Members of the Piikani Nation gathered at Crowsnest Lake in southwestern Alberta on Tuesday to pray for the body of water to heal following the issuing of a Fish Consumption Advisory.

The advisory, posted to the My Wild Alberta website, says 105 fish from Crowsnest Lake were analyzed for mercury and trace metals in 2024, and a preliminary assessment of the results indicated consumption of brown trout, lake trout and mountain whitefish “should be limited” due to selenium levels.

“The public should consider limiting consumption of these fish species from Crowsnest Lake at this time,” says the site. “Further investigation is ongoing.”

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Speaking to CTV News on Tuesday, Piikani Nation member Harley Bastien said water is described as the “veins and blood” of mother earth by Indigenous people.

“We are water,” Bastien said. “Our bodies are water, and we are just trying to protect our bodies – not only for ourselves, but for seven generations ahead.”

A new study from Alberta government scientist suggests old coal mines on the eastern slopes of the Rockies are leaching chemicals that are poisoning fish downstream.

It also suggests any new coal developments could result in “population collapse” of fish species in a nearby lake.

“We called on the water spirits that live in the water,” Bastien said. “We prayed through them, we communicate with them, and in turn, they have they’re own ways of communicating.”

The new study measured selenium levels in fish from Crowsnest Lake, which is fed by creeks connected to Tent Mountain and Grassy Mountain – both former coal mine sites.

In a statement, Evolve Power -- formerly Montem -- which owns Tent Mountain, said it is “in compliance with all applicable provincial and federal regulatory requirements including those prescribed in the environmental protection and enhancement act approval.

“The Crowsnest River Valley contains multiple towns and is a major transportation corridor with significant agricultural and industrial activity, including quarrying by others, all of which may contribute to selenium levels being above naturally occurring levels.”

Northback says the Crowsnest Lake issues are unrelated to its Grassy Mountain project.

The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) said in a statement to CTV News, “If selenium is flagged as a concern through sampling, inspections, or an EPA notification, the AER can order the licensee to increase monitoring, control or halt water discharges, and implement a mitigation plan.

“Throughout a mine’s entire life cycle, operators must demonstrate that any treated water they release meets the stringent limits set by both provincial and federal standards.”

Landowners on the Eastern Slopes say if selenium is found in former mine sites, new exploration is only going to repeat itself.

“The government knew this and yet in all of their communications they’ve indicated there is little or no concern about selenium contamination from open pit coal mining,” said Mike Judd, who owns land near Beaver Mines.

The AER told The Canadian Press that it has directed Evolve Power to submit a “selenium management plan proposal” that targets reductions in selenium in mine-affected water.

Evolve was to submit that plan by July 31 of last year, but the AER said it granted the company an extension to March 31, 2026.

Those at the prayer ceremony say that’s unacceptable.

“Water is everything to the Indigenous people,” said Bastien.

CTV News reached out multiple times to the office of the minister of environment and protected areas for an interview but never received a response.

- With files from Canadian Press