News & Events
Treaty 2 and 4 Manitoba First Nations attend gathering
March 12, 2010
Manitoba First Nations belonging to Treaties 2 and 4 have taken a strong stance in relation to Manitoba Hydro's plans to build a major transmission line down the west side of the province.
March 9 and 10, at a gathering in Dauphin, representatives of First Nations that were part of the two Treaties stated that Manitoba Hydro could not build the line without first dealing with damages already created by previous projects.
A resolution, approved unanimously, stated that Manitoba First Nations attending the gathering would oppose attempts to build Bipole III through Treaty 2 or Treaty 4 territories prior to an audit of damage done by previous Hydro activities.
For several months the Southern Chiefs' Organization has been insisting that the provincial and federal governments provide funding for anindependent audit of the full environmental, economic and cultural impacts of Manitoba Hydro's activities on First Nations. In November, 2009, Chiefs attending an SCO Summit, approved a resolution demanding such an audit. So far both Manitoba Hydro and the provincial government have said that an audit is unnecessary.
When Gary Doer was still premier, Manitoba Hydro was told to abandon plans to build Bipole III east side of Lake Winnipeg and take a longer, costlier route down the west side of the province. Bipole III will carry hydroelectricity from dams in northern Manitoba to customers in southern Manitoba and the United States.
Manitoba Hydro is now looking at three potential west-side routes, but each passes through Treaties 2 and 4.
There was strong feeling among Chiefs, other delegates and Elders, that First Nations were in a strong position in demanding an audit to examine past damages and future consequences of Manitoba Hydro's activities.
Federal and provincial governments must consult First Nations on projects affecting traditional territories. This obligation has been recognized in court decisions and is expected to expand in the future.
The governments and Manitoba Hydro are not going to walk over us. If they are going to do business with us, they will have to give something back that will benefit current and future generations of First Nations people. That was the message I heard loud and clear at the gathering.
Elders and Chiefs spoke about how Manitoba Hydro had ridden roughshod over First Nations at one time, running lines through the land and either charging unfair fees or not providing compensation for damage done.
An audit should be the starting point for negotiations. It will assess what has happened and what will occur with specific types of development in the future.
The gathering, hosted by West Region Tribal Council, was only for Treaty 2 and Treaty 4 First Nations in Manitoba. The resolution did not speak for bands outside Manitoba that belonged to Treaty 2 and 4, but those Treaty organizations will be informed about the outcome of the gathering. All three potential Bipole III routes pass through Treaty 1 territory. Treaty 1 was not part of the gathering but it sent a Chief with a supportive message.
Another issue at the gathering was the plan to again defy a provincial ban on pickerel fishing this spring at Dauphin Lake.
Last spring Chiefs defied the ban by publicly fishing , catching one pickerel and recording the event with photographs, challenging the province to lay charges. The province was also alerted in advance so that it could send conservation officers to the site.
The province never charged the Chiefs but later during the ban charged two men from the Keeseekoowenin First Nation with violating the ban by catching pickerel. Chief Derek Nepinak of the Pine Creek First Nation told the gathering on March 9 that the two fishers will be supported legally, all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary. First Nations people have a right to fish and the province can't restrict this right.
By charging two fishermen, rather than the Chiefs, the province was a bully. Government officials probably thought the two men did not have enough money to fight back in court. The provincial people guessed wrong, because the Chiefs will stand up for those men's rights, and all of our rights.
Another presentation that was well received was by Grand Chief Diane Kelly the Grand Council for Treaty 3, which is almost entirely in Ontario. She spoke about the importance of organizing around Treaty and Treaty members using their own laws and rights.
The gathering hosted by West Region promises to lead to other important developments in the future.
Grand Chief Morris J. Swan Shannacappo of the Southern Chiefs' Organization