On December 16, 2013, the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench
granted a six-month injunction in favour of Penn West Petroleum
Ltd., authorizing the RCMP to remove a road blockade erected by
individuals associated with Bernard Ominayak, the former Chief of
the Lubicon Lake Nation.
Penn West holds valid well licences, mineral surface leases and
a licence of occupation for an access road for oil development
located on lands around the Sawn and Haig Lake areas of northern
Alberta. The roadblock was erected on November 26, 2013, and
blocked access to the drilling site.
Consultation and Blockade
Through most of Penn West's licensing and permitting
process, Chief Ominayak was the acknowledged leader of the Lubicon
Lake Nation. An election was held within the Lubicon Lake Nation,
and a different governing group, called the "Lubicon Lake
Band" (Lubicon Band), led by Chief Billy Joe Laboucan was
elected. The Lubicon Band was formally recognized by both the
provincial and