The Mackenzie River flows near Fort Providence. Dene National Chief Bill Erasmus is concerned the potential impact to the river's watershed now that B.C.'s proposed Site C dam has received ministerial approval and is now waiting for approval by the province. He is calling for the Dene Nation to have a seat at the table while the final decision to build the dam is being made. - photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons |
Dene Nation opposes B.C. mega dam
Potential impacts of Site C downstream unknown, says chief
Walter Strong
Northern News Services
Published Monday, October 20, 2014
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
The Dene Nation is prepared to join any eventual court action against the province of B.C. if it gives final approval to the development of the multi-billion dollar Site C mega dam and hydroelectric project proposed in northeastern B.C.
"We are very concerned about this because we're part of the Mackenzie watershed," Dene National Chief Bill Erasmus told News/North.
"We know the waters are tremendously low. What is the future of the watershed?"
The proposed Site C dam comes with a $7.9 billion price tag and would be the third dam on the Peace River, generating enough electricity for almost a half million homes per year.
It would flood more than 80 km of the Peace Valley and potentially impact water volume in the Mackenzie watershed.
"Legally, all people downstream are supposed to be involved," Erasmus said.
As signatories to Treaties 8 and 11, Erasmus said the Dene Nation should have had a seat at the table during consultations on the project, but they did not have one.
"We are not opposed to development," Erasmus said. "But our prior rights need to take precedence when decisions are made."
The project received approval from both the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office and the federal ministry of environment on Oct. 14.
"The Site C project, which has been proposed by BC Hydro and Power Authority, underwent a thorough independent federal-provincial review by an independent panel," stated Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq in a written statement.
"This process included extensive, meaningful and respectful consultations with the public and aboriginal groups."
Citing economic growth and an increase in the supply of renewable energy as prime motivators for the dam, the federal government attached 80 conditions to its approval of the project.
It is now up to the province of B.C. to make a final decision on the project. However, Erasmus said the Dene Nation is not prepared to leave the decision in the hands of the B.C. provincial government.
In an Oct. 15 letter to Aglukkaq, Erasmus invited the minister to meet with the Dene Nation. Aglukkaq's office declined to confirm whether she would accept that invitation.
In that letter, Erasmus cited the 1973 Justice William Morrow Supreme Court decision on the Paulette case where Erasmus said it was concluded the Dene are the "prima facie land owners of approximately 450,000 square miles of land" in the North, downstream of the proposed dam.
Erasmus said it was time for the federal government to make good on its constitutional obligations to protect aboriginal interests.
"We have an opportunity here to start doing what the courts are saying, especially on such a large project that will effect us all," Erasmus said.
In light of the recent Supreme Court Tsilhqot'in First Nation decision, which has been widely regarded as resetting the standards for meaningful aboriginal consultation on resource development projects, Erasmus said he expects the project will end up in the courts if it receives provincial approval without further consultation.
"There's going to be a lot of opposition and it's going to end up in the courts unless we take a step back and take a good look at it and talk about where this is going to go in the future," Erasmus said.
If the project is challenged in court, Erasmus said the Dene Nation would certainly be part of that action.
"The Dene Nation would participate as people downstream," he said.
In response to a request for comment, a spokesperson for the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency said the federal government consulted with "29 potentially affected aboriginal groups located throughout the Peace River drainage in northeast B.C. and downstream into northern Alberta, and the Slave River drainage in the (NWT)."
