Press Release
Dene Tha’ demands Mackenzie County retract defamatory statement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 20, 2026 [EDMONTON] – Dene Tha’ First Nation (DTFN) is calling on Mackenzie County (the “County”) to retract and apologize for a defamatory statement made in a press release posted on the County’s website on April 2, 2026. The statement is false, risking harm to DTFN’s reputation, and has the potential to fuel racism against DTFN members.
The County issued the press release in response to a DTFN statement on March 30, 2026, applauding an interim injunction order agreed to by consent on the same day, which prevents Mackenzie County from using a bulldozer to open two defunct oil and gas winter roads for public recreational access to several lakes, including Bistcho Lake. The County’s release referenced a previous consultation between Mackenzie County and DTFN regarding several trails and day- use areas adjacent to one of the oil and gas winter roads, including a traditional trapline trail used by DTFN to access Bistcho Lake. In the press release, the County stated that “DTFN did not identify any specific areas of significance or suggest alternative routes. Their only offered mitigation was the removal of all Albertans off the landscape other than their band members.”
“Mackenzie County’s allegation that DTFN asked for the removal of all Albertans who are not DTFN members from the landscape around Bistcho Lake is deeply offensive. The County must remove this statement from its website and apologize,” said DTFN Chief Wilfred Hooka-Nooza.
“The County’s statement has the potential to create divisions between DTFN and other
Albertans. We’ve never said that all non-DTFN Albertans should be excluded from Bistcho Lake. What we’re asking is for users of the area to work with DTFN to keep Bistcho Lake pristine and ecologically intact,” said Hooka-Nooza.
Previously, a DTFN member ice fishing on Bistcho Lake was intimidated and subjected to racist taunts by unidentified members of the public. The member was told that DTFN is about to have its land stolen and that “Indians” [sic] are not welcome on Bistcho Lake. The DTFN member was threatened with physical violence if they did not leave Bistcho Lake, which is sacred to DTFN. “DTFN members often face racism and other forms of discrimination while living in and doing business within our traditional territory. We are deeply concerned that Mackenzie County’s defamatory statement could fuel racism against Dene Tha’ people,” said Hooka-Nooza.
CONTACT
Chief Wilfred Hooka-Nooza – 780-502-2994 / wilfred.hooka-nooza@denetha.ca
Philippe Johnson, Legal Counsel – pjohnson@tlellp.ca / 780 686 6262
BACKGROUND
Dene Tha’ First Nation
Dene Tha’ First Nation represents approximately 3,350 members. It consists mainly of three separate communities located in Northwestern Alberta – Bushe River, Meander River and Chateh (formerly known as Assumption). Around 1160 members live off reserve.
Bistcho Lake
Bistcho Lake is Alberta’s third-largest lake. It lies about 150 kilometres northwest of High Level, AB. It supports many animals, including endangered caribou. It is home to two DTFN reserves, historic villages, trails, seasonal camps, hunting grounds, fishing places, burial sites, and other sacred places. In summer, Bistcho Lake is accessible by float plane, and in winter by several trails and a historic oil and gas winter access road (the Bistcho Lake winter road). For years, DTFN worked with various oil and gas companies to ensure its members’ access to Bistcho Lake Reserve #213 via a portion of the Bistcho Lake winter road. Since the closure of a nearby gas plant, DTFN has largely maintained this portion of the winter road at its own expense.
Consultation on Mackenzie County’s Plan to Control Trails to Bistcho Lake
In 2023, Mackenzie County began consulting with DTFN on a proposal to assume control of a traditional trapline trail used by DTFN to reach its reserves on Bistcho Lake, and to build another groomed snowmobile trail and day-use sites on Bistcho Lake. DTFN raised several concerns, including that the proposal would infringe DTFN’s right to hunt and trap on the traditional trapline trail, increase caribou predation, and affect DTFN’s animal video monitoring program. The trail and proposed day-use site also cover at least one DTFN cultural and historic site on the shore of Bistcho Lake, including a potential grave site at Cabin Cove, or Deh-Che-
Que-Tha, where DTFN has plans for future archaeological work. The Province of Alberta decided that this consultation was adequate and, therefore, complete in late 2025. DTFN is considering a court challenge to this decision.
This consultation did not address the question of whether Alberta should have consulted DTFN before transferring the Bistcho Lake winter road from various oil and gas companies to Mackenzie County to create public vehicular recreational access to Bistcho Lake, which was the subject of DTFN’s March 30, 2026, statement. Alberta states that there was no duty to consult.
Interim Injunction Order by Consent Impacting Defunct Oil and Gas Winter Roads
On March 30, 2026, the Alberta Court of King’s Bench agreed to an interim injunction order by consent preventing Mackenzie County from using a bulldozer to open two defunct oil and gas winter access roads for public recreational access to several lakes, including Bistcho Lake. One of these roads is the Bistcho Lake winter road.
DTFN raised concerns about bulldozing on the Bistcho Lake winter road after portions of the road were transferred by the Province of Alberta to Mackenzie County to create or expand public recreational access to Bistcho Lake, without any consultation with DTFN. DTFN has launched legal action against Alberta and Mackenzie County, alleging that its rights under section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, were violated when Alberta failed to consult DTFN before the transfer.
