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Alberta

First Nations Trapper calling for a team to support farmers, loggers, miners, and “fossil fuel people”

Published

5 years ago

6 minute read

Wun Feather calls himself a “culturally traditional” First Nations trapper.  He’s also a pretty good writer, photographer, and communicator.  Wun’s been observing and sharing his thoughts and images about industry, the environment, and the people who care about them in extremely popular social media posts.  The post here has been shared almost 10,000 times so far.

In this post the culturally traditional First Nations trapper called Wun Feather shares his thoughts about the rush to replace fossil fuels.  He doesn’t approach this as a right vs left issue.  He may be onto something.  In this time of crisis more and more people are prepared to act and think across the spectrum.  Enjoy Wun’s unique perspective.

By Wun Feather

Hey team.
I am calling you a team, because I honestly feel that we are all working together towards a common goal.
Someone asked me if I stand in Solidarity, and Before they added the last word, I said “I sure do”
I am speaking out for what I call #TeamCanada
I recognize that without the farmers doing what they do, I would never have flour for my bannock.
I would never have vegetables for a salad, or potatoes to smother in butter or gravy.
Without the ranchers, I would never have eggs, or chickens or beef for my burgers.
Or the medium rare steak that is going to taste so good over a camp fire.
Without the loggers I would have no lumber to build my tree stands, and without pulp and paper people, well.. let’s just say I do not like the feel of leaves on my derriere.
Without the miners we would have no minerals to make things out of, and without the power and cellular service providers I would be in the dark.
I would have to send you this post via smoke signals.
Without restaurants and fast food places and grocery stores, I would be living back on the land like my ancestors did.
I could go on and on and on, but I have to speak up for the fossil fuel people.
Without thermal or metallurgical Coal, Alberta and many countries around the world would have no power, and they would have no Coke for making Steel.
And without diesel in the tractors, without diesel in the ships or trains or transport trucks, the whole world would grind to a stop.
We all know that Climate change is real.
The climate has been changing for millions of years.
Actually, climate change is the reason that plants have become coal, and dinosaur fossils have become oil.
I bet that we also agree that we have all become dependent on fossil fuels.
But just like we humans have discovered new technologies to replace the old, someday we will find an alternative for fossil fuels.
But we are not there yet.
Remember the big fight between Sony Beta and VHS??
Haha.
I sure do.
Google it kids.
But my point is that neither one of those media’s is used any more.
That supports my theory that someday we will no longer use fossil fuels.
But right now the hard reality is that we need fossil fuels for our hospitals, our schools, and our deep fryers at MacDonalds..
Cheese Whiz..
Haha. I mean Gee whiz.
Even most homes nowadays have pipelines that go through the ground to their houses that bring water or natural gas or propane.
And some houses have pipelines that take the poop away.
So I also stand with the people who know how to put the pipes in the ground.
No one wants anything to happen with their sewer pipes, right?
Isn’t it funny that people do not protest the people who put the poop lines in their yards?
There are no activists stopping them from doing their jobs.
I hope I have made myself clear.
I also stand by the people who make my pants and socks and those nice wicking underwear!
Without oil and gas we would not have nylon or polyester, or fake fur coats.. oops.
I prefer the real fur.
So when someone asks you:
“Who does Wunfeather stand in solidarity for?”
I guess my answer is that I stand for the collective.
I stand for the hard working people who bust their butts each day to make a living so their families can have a better life.
Oh..
Just one more thing.
I love our military.
Seriously.
The Airforce and the Navy, and most of all, if I could solute every PPCLI and Airborne member, you bet your life I would!
But I am just an old Indian Trapper, thanking the people like us who matter the most.

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After 15 years as a TV reporter with Global and CBC and as news director of RDTV in Red Deer, Duane set out on his own 2008 as a visual storyteller. During this period, he became fascinated with a burgeoning online world and how it could better serve local communities. This fascination led to Todayville, launched in 2016.

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Alberta

Big win for Alberta and Canada: Statement from Premier Smith

Published on April 2, 2025

By

Premier Danielle Smith issued the following statement on the April 2, 2025 U.S. tariff announcement:

“Today was an important win for Canada and Alberta, as it appears the United States has decided to uphold the majority of the free trade agreement (CUSMA) between our two nations. It also appears this will continue to be the case until after the Canadian federal election has concluded and the newly elected Canadian government is able to renegotiate CUSMA with the U.S. administration.

“This is precisely what I have been advocating for from the U.S. administration for months.

“It means that the majority of goods sold into the United States from Canada will have no tariffs applied to them, including zero per cent tariffs on energy, minerals, agricultural products, uranium, seafood, potash and host of other Canadian goods.

“There is still work to be done, of course. Unfortunately, tariffs previously announced by the United States on Canadian automobiles, steel and aluminum have not been removed. The efforts of premiers and the federal government should therefore shift towards removing or significantly reducing these remaining tariffs as we go forward and ensuring affected workers across Canada are generously supported until the situation is resolved.

“I again call on all involved in our national advocacy efforts to focus on diplomacy and persuasion while avoiding unnecessary escalation. Clearly, this strategy has been the most effective to this point.

“As it appears the worst of this tariff dispute is behind us (though there is still work to be done), it is my sincere hope that we, as Canadians, can abandon the disastrous policies that have made Canada vulnerable to and overly dependent on the United States, fast-track national resource corridors, get out of the way of provincial resource development and turn our country into an independent economic juggernaut and energy superpower.”

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Alberta

Energy sector will fuel Alberta economy and Canada’s exports for many years to come

Published on April 2, 2025

By

From the Fraser Institute

By Jock Finlayson

By any measure, Alberta is an energy powerhouse—within Canada, but also on a global scale. In 2023, it produced 85 per cent of Canada’s oil and three-fifths of the country’s natural gas. Most of Canada’s oil reserves are in Alberta, along with a majority of natural gas reserves. Alberta is the beating heart of the Canadian energy economy. And energy, in turn, accounts for one-quarter of Canada’s international exports.

Consider some key facts about the province’s energy landscape, as noted in the Alberta Energy Regulator’s (AER) 2023 annual report. Oil and natural gas production continued to rise (on a volume basis) in 2023, on the heels of steady increases over the preceding half decade. However, the dollar value of Alberta’s oil and gas production fell in 2023, as the surging prices recorded in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine retreated. Capital spending in the province’s energy sector reached $30 billion in 2023, making it the leading driver of private-sector investment. And completion of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project has opened new offshore export avenues for Canada’s oil industry and should boost Alberta’s energy production and exports going forward.

In a world striving to address climate change, Alberta’s hydrocarbon-heavy energy sector faces challenges. At some point, the world may start to consume less oil and, later, less natural gas (in absolute terms). But such “peak” consumption hasn’t arrived yet, nor does it appear imminent. While the demand for certain refined petroleum products is trending down in some advanced economies, particularly in Europe, we should take a broader global perspective when assessing energy demand and supply trends.

Looking at the worldwide picture, Goldman Sachs’ 2024 global energy forecast predicts that “oil usage will increase through 2034” thanks to strong demand in emerging markets and growing production of petrochemicals that depend on oil as the principal feedstock. Global demand for natural gas (including LNG) will also continue to increase, particularly since natural gas is the least carbon-intensive fossil fuel and more of it is being traded in the form of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Against this backdrop, there are reasons to be optimistic about the prospects for Alberta’s energy sector, particularly if the federal government dials back some of the economically destructive energy and climate policies adopted by the last government. According to the AER’s “base case” forecast, overall energy output will expand over the next 10 years. Oilsands output is projected to grow modestly; natural gas production will also rise, in part due to greater demand for Alberta’s upstream gas from LNG operators in British Columbia.

The AER’s forecast also points to a positive trajectory for capital spending across the province’s energy sector. The agency sees annual investment rising from almost $30 billion to $40 billion by 2033. Most of this takes place in the oil and gas industry, but “emerging” energy resources and projects aimed at climate mitigation are expected to represent a bigger slice of energy-related capital spending going forward.

Like many other oil and gas producing jurisdictions, Alberta must navigate the bumpy journey to a lower-carbon future. But the world is set to remain dependent on fossil fuels for decades to come. This suggests the energy sector will continue to underpin not only the Alberta economy but also Canada’s export portfolio for the foreseeable future.

Jock Finlayson

Senior Fellow, Fraser Institute
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