The Fort McKay Sustainability Department (FMSD) is dedicated to preserving Fort McKay First Nation’s way of life through maintaining the Nation’s ability to exercise its Treaty, Section 35, and Inherent Rights and traditional land use practices, while working with industry and government to pursue responsible resource development.
The FMSD leads and oversees consultation and engagement between Fort McKay and the oil sands and resource development industries who operate within Fort McKay’s Traditional Territory. This includes consulting on major project applications, monitoring regulatory compliance and approvals, and establishing environmental commitments through impact benefit agreement. The FMSD manages government relations associated with resource development including policy development and project operations, closure and reclamation.
To fulfill its mandate, the FMSD conducts expert technical reviews, engages community members, and participates in consultation on major project applications and submissions filed by industry to federal and provincial regulators. The FMSD also consults with federal, provincial and local governments on their environmental and resource development policies. Additionally, the FMSD leads and participates in research projects to address specific community needs.
Working closely with the community, FMSD staff advocate for members’ concerns, identify gaps in government policy, and recommends changes to ensure the sustainability of traditional lands for future generations.
Contact
Sustainability Department
Phone: (780) 828 2480
Email: fmsdadmin@fortmckay.com
To access the full report please click on the link below.
As we look back on the past year with our Park Ranger / Moose Lake Program, we are proud to share the incredible progress, dedication, and spirit shown by our Park Rangers and Moose Lake Team throughout 2025. Each season brought new challenges, new lessons, and new stories — and through it all, our staff stood steady, proving once again why this program continues to grow, strengthen, and inspire.
This year, the staff completed a tremendous amount of work throughout Moose Lake and the surrounding Fort McKay reserve. From Moose Lake beautification cleanups to infrastructure upgrades at the Moose Lake camp, to trail maintenance, cultural site monitoring, to habitat protection, and community support, the team demonstrated the perseverance and care that defines what it means to safeguard Fort McKay’s traditional territory.
We also celebrated a year full of training accomplishments. Staff participated in wilderness first aid, Wildlife Hazing, jet boat training, traditional knowledge workshops, navigation skills, OHV training, chain saw safety and more. The growth was visible not just in certifications earned, but in the confidence, leadership, and professionalism each member of Our Team carried into the field. Every course completed added another layer of strength to our team — mentally, physically, and sometimes emotionally (especially during cold-weather training days).
Our wildlife cameras were particularly generous this year, capturing an amazing variety of animals around the community. From curious moose moving silently through the bush, to bears who seemed a little too photogenic, our cameras gave us a deeper look into the active wildlife communities who share these lands with us. Even the smallest creatures have a big presence in this ecosystem.
In 2025 we were also proud to welcome our newest Park Ranger, Tayden Shott, to the team. Tayden brought enthusiasm, fresh perspective, and a readiness to learn that fit perfectly with the Ranger spirit. We look forward to watching him grow within the program and contribute to the work that continues to protect, preserve, and honour Moose Lake and our cultural values.
To our current staff — thank you. Over the past year, your dedication, your early mornings, your late evenings, your willingness to learn, and your commitment to protecting the land have not gone unnoticed. You are the heartbeat of this program. Without you, the trails would be quieter, the cameras emptier, and the community less connected to the land we cherish.
And as we continue to build this program, we look forward to welcoming new faces — future Rangers with curiosity, courage, and a desire to serve the land. We hope to see more youth join, more community members participate, and more people discover that being a Park Ranger isn’t just a job… it’s a calling.
When the trails get long and the packs feel heavy,
Our Rangers still walk true and steady.
When the moose stroll by and the cameras blink,
They take a photo — then stop to think.
“This land is life, this land is home,
And we protect it wherever we roam.”
So, here’s to the Our Team — brave and strong,
Keeping Moose Lake and Our Community safe all year long.
Thank you to everyone who supported the Park Ranger Program in 2025. Together, we continue to protect the land, uplift our Nation, and create opportunities for the next generation of guardians.
To report an odour, please call:
Alberta Environment Hotline: 1 800 222 6514 (24 hrs)
For up-to-date information during odours and other air events in the region, please call:
WBEA Air Information Line: 1 866 685 3699 (24 hrs)
If an odour is making you feel sick or you have health concerns, please call:
Alberta Health Link: 1 866 408 5465 (24 hrs)
ALPAC | Athabasca Oil Corporation | BP | Brion | Cenovus | CNRL | Enbridge | Hammerstone | Husky Energy InterPipeline | Ivanhoe | Koch Oil Sands Operating ULC | Parsons Creek | Pembina Pipelines | Shell Southern Pacific | Suncor | Sunshine Oilsand | Syncrude | Teck | Total | TransCanada | Value Creation Inc. | Williams
