Oilsite protestor appears in Alberta court, says Constitution is her defence

Oilsite protestor appears in Alberta court, says Constitution is her defence by Oilweek, October 17, 2011
CARDSTON, Alta. _ One of the three women facing a charge of intimidation for blocking a road used by an oil company on an Alberta First Nation has broken off from her group and lawyer. Lois Frank said outside court in Cardston on Monday that aboriginal people have a right under the Constitution to be consulted and protected on their land and she will use that argument for her defence. Frank and the two others were arrested Sept. 9 on the Blood reserve, southeast of Calgary. The Blood Tribe´s resources company granted Murphy Oil permission to drill wells and at sites on their reserve south of Calgary. But Frank and the other two women say the band council did not consult with band members before granting that permission. Frank has said she is concerned about the effects of hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, which involves a injecting a mixture of chemicals, water and sand into the ground to help release gas and oil. The women´s next court date is Dec. 21. Murphy Oil said in a report to the community earlier this year that safeguards are being put in place to make sure water wells won´t be harmed by the fracking. It also said it would use cement casings in the wells it drills to protect groundwater.  [Emphasis added]

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