THEBACHA/FORT SMITH - A group of Fort Smith residents have said thank-you to Smith's Landing First Nation for its decision in October to reject a proposed hydroelectric project on the Slave River.

The Nov. 13 celebration, which attracted about 150 people, was initiated by the Fort Smith Paddling Club.

"There's a whole lot of people in town who are really thankful that Smith's Landing made that choice," said club president Kirsten Bradley. "And I think there were a lot of people in town who wanted to celebrate."

Chief Cheyeanne Paulette appreciated the expression of support.

"It was really good," he said. "Getting that support, not only from our own members but also the public-at-large, is very comforting knowing that they also shared the same concerns we did."

Paulette said the overall reaction in Fort Smith has been relatively positive to the decision.

However, he noted there is somewhat of a split in the community, like back in the 1980s when a dam on the Slave River was also proposed.

"But the majority has been opposed to it," he said. "You know, you'll always get opposition from the public, but for the most part the numbers have grown in opposition to it."

Paulette said the magnitude of the proposed project would have made it quite destructive.

Smith's Landing rejected a feasibility study of the multi-billion-dollar hydro facility. A dam would have caused flooding of its reserve lands just south of the NWT-Alberta border.

The project was proposed by ATCO Power and Trans-Canada Corporation. The two companies had been considering the idea since 2006.

"It's not common for these big companies to be turned away," Bradley said.

"They have a lot of money and they have a lot of influence, and usually they get their way."

She noted the proposed hydro project had caused concern among kayakers all over the world.

"The Slave River rapids are internationally renowned as one of the best play boating rivers in the world," she said. "It would have been a devastating loss, not just because it's a great fun place to paddle, but it's just an absolutely gorgeous place."

The Nov. 13 celebration featured addresses by Paulette, Western Arctic MP Dennis Bevington and Jacques van Pelt, who has worked for decades to protect a white pelican colony in the rapids of the Slave River.

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