Snow is gently blowing across the runway during our takeoff into the clear cold night sky. Under the brilliant bright moon, the darkness of the trees contrasting with the brightness of the ice and snow are beautiful. Soon after takeoff I spy an orange glow in the horizon. Multiple plants are the size of small towns with orange lights and smoke is billowing from tall stacks. One of the larger sites is shooting flames out of the smoke stacks. Expansion is apparent with the clearing of large areas and piling trees in rows to be burned.

The Indigenous Environmental Network and myself are visiting First Nation communities on the frontline of the rapidly expanding tar sands development in northern Alberta, Canada. During our drive to Fort Mckay we passed a Syncrude plant with huge stacks puffing out smoke into the cloudy gray sky.

Huge toxic steaming ponds line the highway, which is known as the highway of death for all of the accidental deaths that have occurred on this highway.

One of our passengers from the area points out a cross where her sister passed away in an accident a year ago.

The oil companies’ attempts to restore the lands surrounding their plants and tailings ponds are startling and astounding. Bison are corralled in an area within view of the Syncrude plant showing that the area is ‘inhabitable’. Neat rows of identical trees line rolling hills that have been ‘reclaimed’.

The information gathered and images I captured will assist RAN in exploring their options and strategies for engaging in the enormous battle of the tar sands.