Clearwater Confederacy

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Confederation of Autonomous Clearwater and Athabasca
    
Symbols of Clearwater

Location of the Clearwater Confederacy
Status Inactive (2021-22)
Capital Berribasca (de facto)
Language English
Animal Wood Buffalo
Religion Secular
Demonym(s) Clearian
Government        Libertarian socialist federated semi-direct democracy
Legislature Clearian Democratic Council
Independence from Canada
 • Establishment November 5, 2021
 • Disestablishment February 23, 2022
Area
 • Total 3.42 km² (194th)
 • Water (%) 0.62
Population
 • 2021 Estimate 8 (198th)
 • Density 12.01/km² (224th)
Currency Canadian dollar (CAD) (de facto)
Time zone UTC−07:00
Date format ISO 8601

Clearwater (/klrwtər/; officially the Confederation of Autonomous Clearwater and Athabasca, known also as the Clearwater Confederacy, was a North American micronation established in 2021. It was a confederation consisting of self-governing autonomous regions located along the Clearwater and Athabasca rivers in Western Canada. As of 2021, Clearwater has a population of 8 and an area of 3.42 km², consisting of multiple enclaves focused in Northern Alberta, Canada; the largest of these being the de facto capital region, Berribasca.

The land that was the Clearwater Confederacy was inhabited by various groups of indigenous peoples for thousands of years prior to the arrival of European settlement in the 18th Century; most notable of these groups being the Cree First Nations. The Athabasca and Clearwater rivers became popular trading routes for the Hudson's Bay Company, which had been used until the formation of the Canadian province, Alberta in 1905. Throughout the 20th Century, the region's northern oilsands grew to be a hotspot for Canadian industry and development through cities such as Fort McMurray, continuing to develop and operate into the 21st Century.

In Late 2020, plans for a community-wide micronation located in different sections of the Wood Buffalo Municipality were considered, though ultimately were scrapped due to the rising numbers in cases of COVID-19 in the area. By Late 2021, the idea was revisited and put into practice with the founding of the Confederation of Autonomous Clearwater and Athabasca on November 5, 2021.

Sometime around February 2022, the Clearwater Discord would be shut down, a later announcement from the founders in the MicroWiki server being posted. The post would explain complications with moving and personal lives being the main reason for the server's shutdown. Following this announcement, the Clearwater Confederacy ceased all activities online.

Etymology

The name Clearwater comes from the northeastern Clearwater river, which passes through Saskatchewan into Northern Alberta. In a vote hosted by the Clearian Democratic Council, it was unanimously voted for the Clearwater river to take place as the main namesake of the Confederacy over the Athabasca river due to its broader connection with the surrounding enclaves which make up the Confederacy.

History

Pre-Confederation

The land that was the Clearwater Confederacy was inhabited by various groups of indigenous peoples for thousands of years prior to the arrival of European settlement in the 18th Century; most notable of these groups being the Cree First Nations and later, the Metis. The Athabasca and Clearwater rivers became popular onland trading routes for the Hudson's Bay Company, who began establishing various posts along the two rivers. Most notable of them being Fort McMurray in 1870, which sat between the intersection of the Athabasca and Clearwater rivers. It remained as a transportation stopover up until 1921, when a serious interest in the area's local oil sands began immerging due to the increasing, early demands for petroleum. From 1930 onwards, the land which the Clearwater Confederacy operates in began increasing steadily in population, being seen as a site for jobs and opportunities within the growing petroleum industry. This population boom only continued to increase into the 1980s and much later into the early 2010s.

On May 3, 2016, a large wildfire burning southwest of Fort McMurray resulted in the mandatory evacuation of the community. Upwards of 88,000 people across the Municipality of Wood Buffalo region were evacuated; around one-fifth of housing in the region being destroyed or inhabitable. Following the aftermath and gradual return to the Wood Buffalo region, much of the Clearwater's forest was burnt alongside the river itself becoming polluted for years afterwards. Recovery to the region ever since has been growing steadily.

Foundation and Establishment

In Late 2020, discussions of a micronation located across the Municipality of Wood Buffalo began being discussed and conceptualized by various political hobbyists and students from the area. Originally the idea was to set up a Constitutional Monarchy similar to the one present today in Canada, though ultimately was scrapped due to the rising numbers in cases of COVID-19 in the area. The idea of a micronation would lay dormant until Late 2021, when local political hobbyists decided to revisit the concept of forming a micronation. The basis of their new concept took inspirations from the unique communities inside Fort McMurray, taking notes from currently existing areas as well, such as: Rojava, Haudenosaunee, and local groups from around the area.

At 18:00 UTC−07:00, November 5, 2021, the Confederation of Autonomous Clearwater and Athabasca (Clearwater Confederacy) officially declared independence from Canada; forming the Clearian Democratic Council and establishing a semi-direct democracy.

Politics

Structure

Since November 2021, the Clearwater Confederacy was governed under a system of semi-direct democracy. In semi-direct democracy, representatives administer daily governance, but citizens keep the sovereignty, being able to control their governments and laws through different forms of popular action: binding referendum, popular initiative, revocation of mandate, and public consultations. The legislature is made up of directly elected and instantly recallable delegates. The delegates can be revoked and also serve on a 5-month basis. The Clearian Democratic Council serves as the national legislature.

Within each autonomous territory, a more pure form of direct democracy exists, with citizens free to organize and decide legislation and laws within their enclave so long as it does not conflict with national laws or with the constitution. Each autonomous territory was also granted the right of self-determination, retaining the right to secede from the confederation at any time they deem fit, following a majority vote.

Autonomous Regions

The Clearwater Confederation was comprised of various autonomous, self-governing regions focused in the north of the Canadian province, Alberta. Most notable of these autonomous regions being Berribasca and Greentree, the founding regions of the Confederation. Berribasca was a landlocked region consisting of various enclaves located across the upper Hangingstone River, Waterways, and Athabasca River in Fort McMurray, it's farthest reaching territories spanning over to Lower Hangingstone, another local community in Wood Buffalo. Likewise, Greentree was an urban region with various enclaves located across the lower Clearwater and Industrial Gregoire area. Both founding regions share an embassy with one another.

Autonomous Regions of Clearwater
Flag Name Code Founded Pop. Area Executive
Autonomous Zone of
Berribasca 		BRI 2021 5 2.32 km² Berribasca Elected Assembly
Greentree
Village 		GRT 2021 3 1.1 km² Greentree Assembly

Culture

Clearwater's culture was largely inspired from the Municipality of Wood Buffalo and it's sizeable Newfoundlander minority culture, having a strong emphasis on equality, unity, and diversity. No singular identity or religion identifies the region as a whole as the Confederation actively promotes Multiculturalism in relation with local Clearian communities. Historically, Clearwater and it's local communities have been influenced by Ukrainian and Newfoundlander culture, which are the areas where most of its citizens' ancestors immigrated from. Because of this, many Clearians continue to practice and celebrate traditions from these cultures, with activites like Christmas tree decorating, or consuming traditional meals such as Jiggs dinner.

In recent years, Internet culture has become much more predominant, such as the interpersonal exchange of memes via social media.

Popular sports amongst Clearians include ice hockey, basketball, and badminton, with more casual games such as four square being a local community favourite.

List of National Symbols

Symbol Name Image
National Flag "Riverside Unity" Flag
National Emblem Emblem of Confederation
National Motto "Solidarity Forever!"
National Anthem Raise the Black Banners [1]
National Colours Red, White, Black      
National Animal Wood Buffalo

Geography and Climate

Just west of Saskatchewan's border, the Clearwater Confederacy was located in northern Alberta, nestled in the boreal forest at the confluence of the Athabasca River, the Clearwater River, and the Hangingstone River. It resides inside the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, with most territory being held inside the hamlet of Fort McMurray. It was home to the Athabasca oilsands and a wide variety of wildlife, including the Wood Buffalo, Black Bear, Sandhill Cranes, Canadian Lynx, and Raven.

White spruce, trembling aspen, balsam poplar and white birch are the most prominent native trees located along the Clearwater and Athabasca rivers, being actively monitored by the Confederation since the 2016 Fort McMurray Wildfire.

With severe winters and only three months which see an average temperature above 10 °C (50 °F), the Clearwater Confederacy has a borderline subarctic climate (Dfb), just short of being considered a humid continental climate (Dfb) as April to May averages to 9.9 °C (49.8 °F). Temperatures range from an average of −17.4 °C (0.7 °F) in January, to 17.1 °C (62.8 °F) in July. The average annual precipitation was 418.6 mm (16.48 in) and falls mainly in the summer months. Average annual snowfall was 133.8 cm (52.7 in), with almost all of it falling between October and April.

Diplomacy

Alliances

Recognized Micronations

Recognized Regions

Unrecognized Regions

External links

  1. ↑ https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/index_e.html
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