I live on the bank of Athabasca River and every day I see the impacts of the water withdrawals from industry. I was raised on the Athabasca River at a place called Poplar Point 95 km downriver from where I currently reside.  My ancestors and my father Norbert is buried at Poplar Point.  I travel the Athabasca quite frequently in the summmer and fall seasons to pay my respects to my family that have passed on and to keep my spirit alive with my culture, as a First Nation. The Athabasca River is also my traditional food provider as we harvest our moose, beaver, ducks, geese, and fish from the river, (although I am now apprehensive on consuming the fish from the river).  It is beginning to become stressful travelling the Athabasca River when the river is at  a very low level, which is becoming more and more frequent. What was at one time a relaxing ride, now we are faced with worries of what the future holds for our river and the very survival of it.

-- Jean L'Hommecourt, Fort McKay