The Canol pipeline is a story of massive wartime industrialisation. It was built by the Americans, with Canadian consent, to carry crude oil from from Norman Wells, Northwest Territories to the junction at the Alaska Highway in Whitehorse, Yukon during World War II. The terrain through the Mackenzie mountains, weather and remoteness didn’t make for easy construction. Construction began in 1942; after the pipeline was completed it was soon abandoned after 15 months of operation in 1945, due to the permafrost underlies, construction faults, unforeseen logistical outcomes, fluctuating oil prices, and not to mention, the end of the war. After the pipeline was abandoned the burden was left on the local First Nations and wildlife. Everything was left behind, from the pipeline itself to the pump stations, maintenance camps, shelters, and telegraph lines. In 2007 it was listed in the federally contaminated sites program to reduce human and environmental health concerns. Remediation included removal of batteries, excavation of contaminated soils, taking out the telegraph lines, consolidating oil barrels, and removing asbestos. Much remediation work remains to be done.

The history of the pipeline is dominated by male exploration and exploitation. Dr. Earley and all woman team wanted to do just the opposite. They set out on the 600km Canol Heritage Trial on bikes, rafts and foot to create a documentary, the CanolDoc Project, that tells the significance of the pipeline and what remains of its legacy on the Peoples and land. Dr. Earley strongly emphasized the importance of the narrative words chosen for the documentary. Initially a male voice was to begin, but after revision it was decided to take the male voice out since the entirety of the trip was completed by females and to distance the documentary from male colonialism. Dr. Earley also recognized that there is still much to learn from the First Nations of the area and that they play a vital role in the remediation process.

Dr. Earley responded to questions well. It appeared that many of the questions, such as “why did you choose those words in the narration script” and “why are there such high number of African American men in the construction of the pipeline” are ones she has already given enormous thought to and are reasons for production delays. If I had the chance to ask a question, I would ask what the significance of this particular pipeline is to her.