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Exhibit 10.1




INDEMNITY AGREEMENT 




THIS AGREEMENT is effective as of January 1, 2007.




BETWEEN:




OILSANDS QUEST INC., a corporation incorporated under the laws of

Colorado, having its head office in the City of Calgary (the “Corporation”)




- and -




[•] of Calgary, Alberta, Canada

(the “Indemnified Party”)




RECITALS:





	1.	 	The Indemnified Party is, or has agreed to act as, a director or officer of the Corporation
and/or is acting or may, at the Corporation’s request, act in an Authorized Capacity of
Another Entity and the Corporation wishes the Indemnified Party to serve or continue in such
capacity; and






	2.	 	In order to induce the Indemnified Party to serve or continue to provide services to the
Corporation or Another Entity, the Corporation wishes to provide for the indemnification of,
and advancement of expenses to, the Indemnified Party to the maximum extent permitted by
applicable law.





     NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants herein contained, and in
consideration of the Indemnified Party agreeing to act, or to continue to act, as a director or
officer of the Corporation or in an Authorized Capacity with Another Entity, the Corporation and
the Indemnified Party do hereby covenant and agree as follows:



1. Definitions



1.1 As used in this Agreement, including the Recitals:





	 	(a)	 	“Act” means the Colorado Business Corporation Act, as amended;
	 
	 	(b)	 	“Advance” means an advance of Expenses to the Indemnified Party pursuant to
Section 3;
	 
	 	(c)	 	“Another Entity” means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or
unincorporated association or organization of which the Indemnified Party serves in an
Authorized Capacity at the request of the Corporation;
	 
	 	(d)	 	“Authorized Capacity” means a director or officer, or a similar capacity, of a
Another Entity;
	 
	 	(e)	 	“By-Laws” means the by-laws of the Corporation;





 









 




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	 	(f)	 	“Court” means the Court of Queen’s Bench of the Province of Alberta;
	 
	 	(g)	 	“Expenses” means all costs, charges and expenses incurred by the Indemnified
Party in respect of any Proceedings including, without limitation, reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel and other professional fees and out-of-pocket expenses for
attending discoveries, trials or hearings and meetings to prepare for such proceedings,
but shall not include Loss;
	 
	 	(h)	 	“Liabilities” means the Expenses and Loss incurred by the Indemnified Party in
respect of any Proceedings;
	 
	 	(i)	 	“Loss” means amounts which the Indemnified Party is legally obligated to pay as
a result of a Proceeding against the Indemnified Party including amounts paid to settle
an action or satisfy a judgment or to satisfy any fines or penalties levied in respect
of such Proceedings, but shall not include Expenses; and
	 
	 	(j)	 	“Proceedings” means any threatened, pending or completed civil, criminal,
administrative, investigative or other proceeding (including formal and informal
inquiries and hearings), whether or not charges have been laid against the Corporation
or Another Entity or the Indemnified Party, in which the Indemnified Party is involved
by reason of the Indemnified Party’s association with the Corporation or Another
Entity, or by reason of anything done or not done by the Indemnified Party in the
capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation or in an Authorized Capacity with
Another Entity.





2. Indemnification



2.1 Except in respect of an action referred to in Section 2.2 and subject to Section 2.3, the
Corporation shall indemnify and save harmless the Indemnified Party from and against all
Liabilities, actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnified Party in respect of any
Proceedings if:





	 	(a)	 	the Indemnified Party acted honestly and in good faith with a view to the best
interests of the Corporation or Another Entity, as the case may be; and
	 
	 	(b)	 	in the case of a criminal or administrative action or proceeding that is
enforced by a monetary penalty, the Indemnified Party had no reasonable grounds for
believing that the Indemnified Party’s conduct was unlawful.




2.2 In respect of any action by or on behalf of the Corporation or Another Entity to procure a
judgment in its favour, to which the Indemnified Party is made a party by reason of being or having
been a director or officer of the Corporation or serving in an Authorized Capacity with Another
Entity, or by reason of anything done or not done by the Indemnified Party in any such capacity,
the Corporation shall, with the prior approval of the Court, indemnify and save harmless the
Indemnified Party against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnified Party in
connection with such Proceedings if the Indemnified Party fulfils the conditions set out in
Sections 2.1(a) and (b) above. The Corporation agrees to make application


 









 





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to the Court for approval of such indemnification and to use reasonable commercial efforts to
obtain approval to such indemnification.



2.3 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Corporation shall not be obligated
to:





	 	(a)	 	indemnify the Indemnified Party or make Advances with respect to Proceedings
initiated or brought voluntarily by the Indemnified Party and not by way of defence,
except (i) with respect to Proceedings to enforce a right to indemnification or Advance
pursuant to this Agreement, or (ii) in specific cases if the Board of Directors of the
Corporation has approved the initiation of such Proceedings; or
	 
	 	(b)	 	indemnify the Indemnified Party in respect of any amounts the payment of which
by the Corporation is not permitted by applicable law.




2.4 For the purposes of this Agreement, the termination of any Proceedings by judgment, order,
settlement or conviction, or similar or other result shall not, of itself, create any presumption
for the purposes of this Agreement that the Indemnified Party did not act honestly and in good
faith with a view to the best interests of the Corporation or Another Entity, as the case may be,
or that, in the case of a criminal or administrative action or proceeding that is enforced by
monetary penalty, the Indemnified Party had no reasonable grounds for believing that the
Indemnified Party’s conduct was unlawful, unless the judgement or order of the court or other
competent authority shall specifically find or determine otherwise.



2.5 In respect of any claim for indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, the Corporation may not
indemnify the Indemnified Party unless a determination is made that the Indemnified Party acted
honestly and in good faith and with a view to the best interests of the Corporation or Another
Entity, as the case may be, and, in the case of a criminal or administrative action or proceeding
that is enforced by a monetary penalty, to have had no reasonable grounds for believing that his
(her) conduct was unlawful. The determination shall be made either: (1) by a majority vote of the
board of directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present, and only those directors not
parties to the Proceedings shall be counted in satisfying the quorum; (2) if a quorum cannot be
obtained, by a majority vote of a committee of board of directors designated by the board of
directors, including the directors who are parties to the Proceedings, which committee shall
consist of two or more directors not parties to the Proceedings; (3) if a quorum cannot be obtained
under (1) and a committee cannot be established under (2), then the determination shall be made by
independent legal counsel selected by a majority vote of the full board of directors, or by the
shareholders.



2.6 If the Indemnified Party is entitled under this Agreement to a portion but not all of the
benefit of the indemnification provided hereunder, the Corporation shall indemnify the Indemnified
Party for the portion thereof to which the Indemnified Party is determined to be entitled.




 









 




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3. Advance Of Expenses



3.1 Subject to Section 2.3, the Corporation shall advance moneys to the Indemnified Party for
Expenses of the Indemnified Party reasonably incurred in respect of any Proceedings referred to in
Section 2.1, as may be appropriate to enable the Indemnified Party to properly investigate, defend,
participate in or appeal such Proceedings.



3.2 The Corporation shall seek Court approval to the advance of moneys to the Indemnified Party for
Expenses reasonably incurred by the Indemnified Party in respect of Proceedings referred to in
Section 2.2.



3.3 In the event that it is ultimately determined that the Indemnified Party was not entitled to be
indemnified, or was not entitled to be fully indemnified, for any Liabilities in any Proceedings in
respect of which Advances have been made under Section 3.1 or 3.2, the Indemnified Party shall
reimburse the Corporation for such Advances or portion of such Advances.



3.4 An Advance shall be made by the Corporation upon receipt of :





	 	(a)	 	a written request for Advance containing sufficient detail of the Proceedings
and Expenses to enable the Corporation to determine whether and the extent to which the
Indemnified Party is entitled to an Advance;
	 
	 	(b)	 	copies of all receipts, invoices and other supporting material reasonably
required by the Corporation (including in the case of legal or other professional
advisors, a detailed description of the services rendered) in respect of the Expenses;
	 
	 	(c)	 	a written acknowledgement of the Indemnified Party’s obligation to reimburse
the Corporation for the amount of all Advances if it is determined that the Indemnified
Party was not entitled to be indemnified or fully indemnified for Expenses in respect
of which Advances were made by the Corporation; and
	 
	 	(d)	 	a written affirmation that, based on facts known to the Indemnified Party and
in relation to the matter giving rise to the request for the Advance, the Indemnified
Party in good faith believes that the Indemnified Party:






	 	(i)	 	acted honestly and in good faith with a view to the best
interests of the Corporation or, as the case may be, to the best interests of
Another Entity for which the Indemnified Party acted in an Authorized Capacity;
and
	 
	 	(ii)	 	in the case of a criminal or administrative proceeding that is
enforced by a monetary penalty, the Indemnified Party had no reasonable grounds
for believing that his or her conduct was unlawful.






	 	(e)	 	a determination that is made pursuant to Section 2.5 that the facts then known
will not preclude indemnification under this Agreement.




3.5 The Corporation shall make such Advance within 30 days of receipt of all such required
material.




 









 




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3.6 The Corporation may at its sole discretion provide Advances for future Expenses.



3.7 The Corporation shall only be required to make an Advance to the extent that it is reasonable
in the circumstances and shall be entitled to contest in good faith the reasonableness of any
portion of a request for an Advance.




4. Insurance



4.1 The Corporation represents to the Indemnified Party that, as of the date of this Agreement, the
Corporation has an existing directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy in full force and
effect and that the Indemnified Party is included as an insured person under such policy.



4.2 The Corporation shall from time to time make a good faith determination whether or not it is
practicable for the Corporation to obtain or maintain such insurance coverage. Among other
considerations, the Corporation will weigh the costs of obtaining such insurance against the
protection afforded by such coverage. If insurance is obtained, the Corporation agrees to use its
best commercial efforts to maintain the Indemnified Party as an insured person under such policy
with the same rights and benefits, subject to the same limitations, as are accorded the most
favourably insured of the Corporation’s directors and officers.



4.3 Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall have no obligation to obtain or maintain
such insurance if the Corporation determines in good faith that such insurance is not reasonably
available, if the premiums are too high or if the coverage provided is limited by exclusions so as
to provide insufficient benefit. The Corporation shall promptly notify the Indemnified Party in
the event that a determination is made not to continue to maintain such insurance or if a change is
made in such policy which would have a material effect on the coverage available to the Indemnified
Party.



4.4 The obligation of the Corporation to make payments to the Indemnified Party under this
Agreement and the timing of such payments shall not be affected or reduced by any limitations,
policy limits or deductible amounts contained in any insurance carried by the Corporation or
whether the Corporation has in fact received payment from the insurer.




5. Indemnification Procedures



5.1 If any Proceeding is brought or asserted against or involves the Indemnified Party, the
Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Corporation of the nature and details of such
Proceeding as soon as the Indemnified Party is notified of such Proceeding (provided that any
failure to so notify promptly shall relieve the Corporation of liability under this Agreement only
to the extent that such failure prejudices the ability to defend such claim).



5.2 If, at the time of the receipt of such notice, the Corporation has directors’ and officers’
liability insurance in effect, the Corporation shall give prompt notice of the commencement of such
Proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies.




 









 




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5.3  The Corporation shall be entitled to assume the defence or representation of the Indemnified
Party in any such Proceeding through legal counsel selected by the Corporation reasonably
acceptable to the Indemnified Party. If any other similarly indemnified persons are also a party
to, or involved in any such Proceeding, the Corporation may employ counsel to represent jointly the
Indemnified Party and such other persons. After retention of counsel by the Corporation, the
Corporation shall not be liable to the Indemnified Party under this Agreement for any fees and
expenses of counsel subsequently incurred by the Indemnified Party with respect to the same
Proceeding, provided that:





	 	(a)	 	the Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ his or her own counsel at
the Indemnified Party’s own expense (which shall not qualify as Expenses); and
	 
	 	(b)	 	the Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain his or her own counsel at
the Corporation’s expense (which shall qualify as Expenses) if:






	 	(i)	 	the employment of counsel by the Indemnified Party has been
previously authorized by the Corporation,
	 
	 	(ii)	 	the Indemnified Party shall have been advised by counsel that
there is a potential conflict in the joint representation referred to above and
such joint representation would be precluded under applicable standards of
professional conduct then prevailing in the jurisdiction in which such
Proceedings are being conducted, or
	 
	 	(iii)	 	the Corporation shall not continue to retain counsel to assume
the defence of such Proceedings.






If the Indemnified Party elects to retain counsel in any Proceeding in respect of
which indemnification may be sought from the Corporation pursuant to this Agreement,
and any similarly indemnified persons are also a party to such Proceeding, the
Indemnified Party, together with such other persons, will employ counsel to
represent jointly the Indemnified Party and such other persons, unless the
Indemnified Party is advised by counsel that there is a potential conflict in such
joint representation and such joint representation would be precluded under
applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing in the jurisdiction in
which such Proceedings are being conducted, in which case the Indemnified Party will
notify the Corporation and will be entitled to be represented by separate counsel.



   5.4  The Indemnified Party shall not settle, and the Corporation shall not be liable for any
settlement of, any Proceeding without the Corporation’s written consent. The Corporation shall not
settle any Proceeding in a manner that would impose any fines, penalties or obligations on the
Indemnified Party without the written consent of the Indemnified Party. Neither the Corporation
nor the Indemnified Party shall unreasonably withhold their consent to any proposed settlement.



   5.5  The Indemnified Party agrees to give the Corporation such information and co-operation as the
Corporation may reasonably require from time to time in respect of all matters hereunder.











 




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The Corporation agrees to give the Indemnified Party such information and co-operation as the
Indemnified Party may reasonably require from time to time in respect of all matters hereunder.



5.6 Payment of indemnification in respect of a Proceeding shall be made by the Corporation as soon
as practicable but in any event within 60 days after a written claim by the Indemnified Party is
received by the Corporation (which claim shall include such documentation and information as is
reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent the Indemnified Party is entitled to
indemnification, including but not limited to copies of invoices received by the Indemnified Party
in connection with any Expenses), unless a determination is made by the Corporation that the
Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification.




6. Enforcement 



6.1 If a claim under this Agreement for indemnity for Liabilities or for an Advance is refused or
is not paid in full by the Corporation within 60 days in the case of indemnity for Liabilities and
30 days in the case of an Advance, after a written claim and all required supporting material has
been received by the Corporation, the Indemnified Party may at any time thereafter bring suit
against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, if successful in whole or in
part, the Indemnified Party will be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting such claim,
including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel. It shall be a defence to any such action (other
than an action brought to enforce a claim for an Advance incurred in connection with any Proceeding
in advance of its final disposition) that the Indemnified Party has not met the standards of
conduct which make it permissible under applicable law for the Corporation to indemnify the
Indemnified Party for the amount claimed, or is otherwise not entitled to indemnification under
this Agreement, but the burden of proving such defence shall be on the Corporation and the
Indemnified Party shall be entitled to receive Advances pursuant to Section 3 unless and until such
defence may be finally adjudicated by a court order or judgement from which no further appeal
exists. It is the parties’ intention that if the Corporation contests the Indemnified Party’s
right to indemnification, the question of the Indemnified Party’s right to indemnification shall be
for the court to decide, and no determination by the Corporation (including its Board of Directors,
any committee of directors or independent legal counsel) that the Indemnified Party has not met the
applicable standard of conduct shall create a presumption that the Indemnified Party has not met
the applicable standard of conduct.




7. Taxes Payable



7.1 The Corporation agrees to reimburse the Indemnified Party for the net amount of all taxes
payable by the Indemnified Party under the taxing laws of any jurisdiction as a result of the
payment or reimbursement or Advance under this Agreement, including this clause, constituting a
taxable benefit to the Indemnified Party.




8. Other Rights



8.1 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Corporation hereby agrees to
indemnify the Indemnified Party to the fullest extent permitted by law, notwithstanding that such
indemnification is not specifically authorized by the provisions of this Agreement. In the event
of any change after the date of this Agreement in any applicable law or rule (whether by











 




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legislative action or judicial decision), which grants or permits any greater right to
indemnification and/or advancement of expenses, such changes shall automatically apply to the
Indemnified Party’s rights, and the Corporation’s obligations, under this Agreement. In the event
of any change in applicable law which narrows the right of the Corporation to indemnify or to
advance expenses to the Indemnified Party, such changes shall automatically apply to this agreement
except to the extent that such law is not required to be applied to this Agreement.



8.2 The indemnification and advances as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed to derogate
from or exclude any other rights to which the Indemnified Party may be entitled under any provision
of the Act or otherwise at law, the Articles of the Corporation, the By-Laws, any other agreement
of the Corporation, any vote of shareholders of the Corporation, or otherwise.



8.3 The obligations of the Corporation under this Agreement shall cover the Indemnified Party’s
service as a director or officer of the Corporation or in an Authorized Capacity with a Another
Entity and all of his or her acts in any such capacity whether prior to or after the date of this
Agreement.



8.4 The obligations of the Corporation under this Agreement (including for greater certainty the
obligation with respect to insurance under Section 4.2) shall continue for the longest period
permitted under applicable law after the Indemnified Party has ceased to be a director or officer
of the Corporation or ceased to serve in an Authorized Capacity with a Another Entity.




9. Deceased Indemnified Party



9.1 If the Indemnified Party is deceased and is entitled to indemnification under any provisions of
this Agreement, the Corporation agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Indemnified Party’s
estate and executors, administrators, legal representatives and lawful heirs to the same extent as
it would indemnify the Indemnified Party, if alive, hereunder.




10. Notices



10.1 Unless otherwise permitted by this Agreement, all notices, requests, demands and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been fully given if
delivered to the party to whom the notice or other communication is directed:





	 	(a)	 	if to the Indemnified Party, at the address set forth on the signature page
below;
	 
	 	(b)	 	if to the Corporation, at the address of its head office, to the attention of
the Executive Chairman;




or to such other address as each party may from time to time notify the other of in writing.



10.2 If the Corporation receives notice from any other source of any matter which the Indemnified
Party would otherwise be obligated hereunder to give notice of to the Corporation, then the
Indemnified Party shall be relieved of the Indemnified Party’s obligation hereunder to give notice
to the Corporation, provided the Corporation has not suffered any damage from the failure of the
Indemnified Party to give notice as herein required.













 




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11. Severability



11.1 If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable for any reason whatsoever:





	 	(a)	 	the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this
Agreement (including, without limitation, all portions or any paragraphs of this
Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable
that are not of themselves in the whole invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in
any way be affected or impaired thereby; and
	 
	 	(b)	 	to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including,
without limitation, all portions of any paragraphs of this Agreement containing any
such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that are not of themselves
in the whole invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect
to the intent manifested by the provision which is held to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable.





12. Governing Law And Consent To Jurisdiction



12.1 The parties hereto agree that this Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance
with, and governed by, the laws of the Province of Alberta.



12.2 The Corporation and the Indemnified Party each hereby irrevocably consent to the exclusive
jurisdiction and venue of the courts of the Province of Alberta for all purposes in connection with
any action or proceedings which arises out of or relates to this Agreement and agree that any
action instituted under this Agreement shall be commenced, prosecuted and continued only in such
courts.




13. Counterparts



13.1 This Agreement may be executed in counterparts and delivered via facsimile. Each such
counterpart shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and
the same instrument.




14. Modification And Waiver



14.1 No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in
writing by both of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall
be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or not similar) nor
shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.




15. Prior Agreements 



15.1 This Agreement shall supersede and replace any and all prior agreements (except any written
agreement of employment between the Corporation and the Indemnified Party, which shall remain in
full force and effect except to the extent augmented or amended herein) between the parties hereto
respecting the matters set forth herein.













 





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16. Successors And Assigns



16.1 This Agreement shall be binding upon and enure to the benefit of the Corporation and its
successors and assigns, including any Corporation with which the Corporation is merged or
amalgamated, and to the Indemnified Party and the Indemnified Party’s executors, administrators,
legal representatives, lawful heirs, successors and assigns.




     IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above
written.



	 	 	 	 	 
	OILSANDS QUEST INC.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Per:
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	[•]	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	[•]

Address:

	 	 	 	Witness