Educational Media Reviews Online

White Water Black Gold explores the tar sand (or oil sand) mining industry in the Athabasca oil sands of Alberta, Canada, examining human, wildlife, and environmental impacts. The film traces a hypothetical drop of water: from its origin atop pristine glaciers in Alberta’s Columbia ice fields, down through the Athabasca River (which runs across the oil sand mine fields), and into Lake Athabasca. Footage of pristine wilderness landscapes contrasts starkly with that of the mining operations. The process of extracting oil from the sands is foremost a water-intensive process (“3.3 barrels of fresh water to 1 barrel of oil”), and the resulting toxic waste is stored in ever-expanding, open-air tailings “ponds” straddling the Athabasca River, which are large enough to be visible by satellite. Mistaking them for freshwater ponds, waterfowl are routinely trapped in tailings ponds, and accidental leaks and spills into the Athabasca River have been documented.

The film also showcases commentary about the mining impacts on public health from environmental scientists, doctors and public health officials, oil company representatives, and members of the First Nations. Public health effects are of special concern for First Nations residents near Fort Chipewyan who rely upon the water and fish of Lake Athabasca, and whose community has been plagued by higher than average rates of cancer. Assurances from mining representatives that mines operate within required regulatory standards are met with impassioned speeches by concerned citizens at public community meetings. It’s notable that in August 2011 (following the film’s publication) the Alberta government announced a provincial health study to examine the link between higher cancer rates in the Fort Chipewyan community and oil sands mining operations.

Additional mining company proposals to impact Albertan and other provincial lands are also noted, including a new pipeline to the British Columbian coast aimed to enable shipping of oil across the Pacific (to satisfy Chinese demand for oil, and Canadian desire to maintain its status as oil-exporting nation). White Water Black Gold sends a strong message about the current and potential future impacts of oil sands mining on land, water, and wildlife resources. The question remains: “Now that public opinion is shifting against tar sands will Canadians bridge the gap between white water and black gold?”

Highly Recommended