Tulita woman alleges conflict of interest in Northwest Territories Sahtu Land and Water Board fracking approval for ConoccoPhillips

Tulita woman alleges conflict of interest in fracking decision by CBC News, January 10, 2014
A woman in Tulita says some members of her local land board are in a conflict of interest. In 2012, the board of the Tulita Land/Financial Corporation recommended a hydraulic fracturing operation near the community go ahead. The corporation holds trust money for the community of Tulita that came from the Sahtu Dene and Metis land claim in 1993. The Sahtu Land and Water Board later approved the fracking operation. Sheila Karkagie says four of seven board members were in a conflict of interest when they agreed to support ConoccoPhillips’ fracking operation near Tulita. She says the board members ended up getting contracts for catering, clearing brush, and delivering water. Karkagie says it’s wrong and she wants to see some changes. “If you have a business, you shouldn’t be on a board because you are aren’t thinking of us, you are thinking of yourselves.” [Emphasis added]