Aboriginal Views
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The excerpts below provide a sample of the views among hydro-affected Aboriginal people. Perspectives vary considerably between communities and within communities. Information below is neither exhaustive nor definitive. (Disclaimer) To suggest additional material please contact us.
– Chemawawin Cree Nation (Easterville) *– For Task Force response to the question of whether our activity infringes on the rights of First Nations who seek a share of future hydro exports, see this excerpt of a presenation by Task Force staff person Will Braun at a May 27, 2011 United Church meeting in Kenora, ON. (Full presentation available here.)
- located about 420 km north of Winnipeg on the south shore of Cedar Lake - over 1,650 members1 Quote: “'This was God’s country. Everything was here,' says Ralph Thomas, 63 [of Easterville], standing on a small island on Cedar Lake — all that is left of the original reserve after Manitoba Hydro flooded about 202,343 hectares of land to operate the Grand Rapids Generating Station. Food was plentiful and people knew how to help each other, Thomas said. If someone killed a moose, everyone would get a chunk of moose meat. Trappers sold pelts for extra cash. 'Life was good here,' says Thomas. 'We never experienced hardships. Families were self-sufficient.'” – Winnipeg Free Press article, Larry Kusch, July 31, 2010 Chemawawin Cree Nation website
– located in the vicinity of Gillam, about 300 km northeast of Thompson, near Manitoba Hydro's largest dams, – almost 1,100 members2 Quotes: "Sometimes, when I think of what we have gone through, I am surprised we have survived as a First Nation." – Former Chief Robert Wavey “While the historical relationship between Manitoba Hydro and Fox Lake has been complex and has not always been easy and has had many challenges, [this] agreement goes a long way in recognizing and acknowledging the need for a new, positive relationship between the Fox Lake Cree Nation and Manitoba Hydro regarding development within our traditional territory. . . . Fox Lake Cree Nation website
– located 400 km north of Winnipeg, where the Saskatchewan River empties into Lake Winnipeg – over 1,600 members3 Quote: "Ovide Mercredi, chief of the Misipawistik Cree Nation...laments the loss of the Saskatchewan River...and the rapids that inspired the name of the town. Both have been swallowed by a large artificial lake that feeds the massive hydro generating station, which dominates the community.
... Misipawistik Cree Nation website
– located 80 km west of Thompson, on the Burntwood River, which is also the diversion route by which most of the flow of the Churchill River is channeled to the Nelson River – over 4,500 members4 Quotes: "The Churchill River Diversion (CRD), constructed in the 1970s, had a great impact on our First Nation because the water level changes and flooding it caused affected our hunting, fishing, trapping and sacred sites." – NCN website "We are working hard to build a sound platform for the future that is good for our land and our people. We will continue to live off the land but in new ways." – NCN website Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation website
– located about 30 km north of Lake Winnipeg, on the Nelson River – approximately 6,000 members5 Quotes: “Our 1997 agreement with Manitoba Hydro, Manitoba and Canada was to address the flooding of our land and impact on our rights and our way of life. Twelve years later the terms of our implementation agreement have not been met and we have not received any land in compensation for the flooded land, and Manitoba Hydro continues to unlawfully flood our land and make profits off of it.” – Former Chief Marcel Balfour in an October 30, 2009 press release "We will seek with this [Water Power Act] licensing process a system-wide look at how Hydro manages and operates rivers and lakes. . . . Together with the Province’s special audit to investigate whistleblower claims of export risks and mismanagement, this will provide everyone with a timely and once in a lifetime opportunity to look at Manitoba Hydro’s projects and operations and see if in fact Manitoba Hydro’s power is actually ‘green’.” – Former Chief Marcel Balfour in an October 30, 2009 press release Norway House Cree Nation website
- located about 130 km north of Thompson on the south shore of Southern Indian Lake - almost 1,400 members6 Quote: "In energy lingo 'clean energy' seems to imply that [hydro] is harmless. This energy isn't harmless. You are invited to visit my community and witness clean, harmless energy in the making.
No community website
– located 190 km (by air) south of Thompson and 520 km (by air) north of Winnipeg, on Cross Lake, which is part of the Nelson River system – over 7,300 members7 Quote: "Mr. Minister, these lands which you now stand on, and the lands you have passed over today by plane, are our lands. Through treaty we shared these lands with the non-Indian community. We did not sell our lands or our rights to hunt and fish upon these lands. We believed it was reasonable to share what we had in the hope that some day the whites would become self-sufficient. Pimicikamak Cree Nation website
– located on Split Lake, which is part of the Nelson River system, about 140 km northeast of Thompson – more than 3,350 members8 Quotes: "Hydro-electric development permanently changed our lands and waterways. . . . The adverse effects caused by this development were beyond the worst fears of our people. . . . Our local environment was fundamentally and permanently disrupted." – Our People, Our Lands and Waters, Our Vision, Our Voice, a 2001 Tataskweyak Cree Nation booklet regarding development "The lands, the waters and the resources have provided for us in the past. We can't exercise our traditional pursuits as in the past because the waters have changed. Yet, these waters and their power could once again help to provide for our people." – Elder William Beardy "If opponents succeed in blocking the export of hydroelectric power, we will have lost a major economic opportunity." – Presentation by TCN representatives to the Aboriginal Rights Committee of Kairos, February 28, 2002, Winnipeg Tataskweyak Cree Nation website - located on the southern shores of Split Lake, which is part of the Nelson River system, about 140 km northeast of Thompson - over 1,100 members9 Quote: "Today's agreement will ensure our members have the resources to effectively participate in planning for Conawapa. This agreement also enables us to have the resources and information necessary to make independent decisions to ensure that our First Nation will benefit and to ensure the project is environmentally acceptable to our people." – Former Chief Ted Bland, at the signing of "Process Agreement" related to Manitoba Hydro's proposed Conawapa Dam, Dec. 5, 2006 No website
- located about 150 km by air, northeast of Thompson (see Manitoba Highways map of Thompson, Split Lake, Gillam area – full provincial map here) - less than 300 members (mostly off-reserve)10 Quote: “Today’s agreement marks the beginning of a new relationship between War Lake First Nation and Manitoba Hydro. . . . For the first time, we have the opportunity to share in the economic benefits of hydroelectric development and to ensure development is environmentally acceptable to our people.” – Former Chief Rusty Beardy at the signing of a "Process Agreement" related to Manitoba Hydro's Keeyask Dam, July 10, 2003 War Lake First Nation website
– Assembly of First Nations resolution calling for "a full environmental audit of Manitoba Hydro projects, current and future" (Dec. 10, 2009) – Norway House Cree Nation press release calling for a “public, open and transparent process” to review Manitoba Hydro's northern operations (Oct. 30, 2009) – Southern Chiefs Organization resolution calling for a "full environmental audit of Manitoba Hydro" (Nov. 19, 2009) – Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council (Wisconsin) resolution regarding potential imports of hydro from Manitoba (Sept. 10, 2009) – National Congress of American Indians resolution regarding imports of Canadian hydro power (Oct. 16, 2009) Read more: Notes
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