Hydraulic Fracking: What is it and is it blessing or disaster? (Part 1)

In recent months two commercial drilling firms have received permission to begin drilling for gas and oil on leases within the Blood Reserve in Southern Alberta. Conventional drilling and exploration have taken place there in the past. However, a different technique using hydraulic fracking is planned for drilling the proposed wells, which may have potential to yield large amounts of gas and oil previously not reachable by conventional means. While several locations in the surrounding area of Lethbridge may have seen hydraulic fracking being used to drill for gas and oil, many people in Alberta and North America have already raised concerns about the technology of hydraulic fracking and its potential threat to the water and environment. Known dangerous chemicals and large amount of water applied under extreme pressure appears to be necessary in the process of fracturing shale or coal seams deep underground. What is hydraulic fracking and do we really need to be concerned about our only water supplies, the Oldman River and the St. Mary River Irrigation District, both of which are in the vicinity of the planned drilling project? Speaker: Mike Bruised Head Mike Bruised Head is a member of the Blood Reserve and also a member of "Friends of the Blood Lands". He is a Kainai Educator raised to have cultural respect for the earth and firmly believe he has a duty to protect the lands as a future elder. This organization is "a coalition of concerned people for the environment where we hold the earth, water and air precious so that it will sustain our people and future generations forever." Mike believes fracking presents a real threat to the environment of Southern Alberta.