The story of the survival of Fort McKay First Nation, amidst the monumental socioeconomic and environmental changes that have occurred here in the last 50 years, is also a story of women’s resilience. In many ways it is a familiar tale - an Aboriginal community losing its traditional way of life; yet this tale is distinctly shaped by the discovery of oil reserves deep in the sacred land of their ancestors. Today, Fort McKay is a community carving out - and struggling with - its new identity in the space between the brave new world of a booming oil industry and the traditions of the past.
This case study will explore the unique circumstances that have accompanied the develop- ment of Alberta’s oil sands. It will also delve into the lives of several women who have been navigating these circumstances for themselves and their community. They are representative of the diversity found in Fort McKay: of Cree, Dene, or Métis descent; from young to well-established; from entrepreneurs to band leaders. We will examine the assets these women deem vital for shaping their lives, as well as the questions that remain alive for them as they chart the future.