Welcome to the first Hydro Alliance NewsletterAn Introduction

Stef McLachlan, Environmental Conservation LabUniversity of Manitoba

My name is Stéphane McLachlan or Stef. I am half French, half Scottish, and was born and grew up about 11,000 km away in the English colony (at that time) of Hong Kong. I moved from Ontario to Winnipeg about 15 years ago, for my

job at the University of Manitoba, where I still live with my partner and two young kids. So, yes, I’m pretty much a vintage “settler” and newcomer.

Many of you live and breathe hydropower everyday. This in ways that, until recently, I could only imagine. This all changed for me almost two years ago, when Peter Kulchyski organized a cross-community tour of the destruction. This kind of tour would normally leave me and many people I know with a bitter and cynical aftertaste. Disaster voyeurism at its worst.

But the intentions of this tour were good. To build awareness with some established university professors who could work for progressive social and environmental justice. To work in ways that are independent and at arms-length from industry and government. And to do so in ways that are led by and ultimately answerable to hydropower-affected communities.

So we took this crazy-fast tour and visited with members of Misipawistik (Grand Rapids) Cree Nation, Kinosao Sipi (Norway House) Cree Nation, Makaso Sakikan (Fox Lake) Cree Nation, Pimicikamak (Cross Lake), Tataskweyak (Split Lake) Cree Nation, and O-Pipon-Na-Piwin (The Pas) Cree Nation. We shared stories, explored some of the impacted areas by boat, and feasted on traditional foods. We listened to and learned from our hosts who had every right to be cynical about our visit. But who were remarkably patient with our ignorance and naivety.

Driving from community to community, we counted sand cranes and black bears, dodged lake-sized potholes, and changed flat tires. And we talked and talked some more - talking as much as only university researchers can talk. And we reflected deeply on ways that we might be able to work for and to

Johnny Courtoreille showing Stef McLachlan traditional plant uses.

Grand Rapids: Community VoiceThe Stories of the Animals

Gerald McKay Grand Rapids Community Resident

Nobody speaks for the animals, but the animals have a story to be told as well. The animals were the ones that lost everything, even their lives in many cases. The Saskatchewan River delta was the largest inland delta in North America and was home to many species of animals who were all flooded out. I was taught by Hydro that 1600 square miles were flooded, they later changed this figure to 444 square miles for reasons that are unclear. I was told a story once by a government employee who used to fly over the forebay every week as the flooding was taking place. He did not want this story told because he did not want to be shunned by his community. He told me that as the flooding was happening the animals were moving to higher ground and were starting to crowd each other on the higher patches of ground. When this land started to disappear, the animals had nowhere to go. They started to swim in a huge circle for comfort because there was no shoreline in sight

and nowhere to go. He said there were up to two hundred moose in this circle but I am sure there were wolves and bears and all the other creatures that had lived in the forest. Can you imagine the fear and stress as these animals swam side by side with nowhere to go. Animals are strong swimmers and would have swam in that circle until exhaustion would have got to them.

I am sure these stories of the animals filtered downstream in the native community because the people on the forebay side would have seen these animals as well. I was nine years old when that flood happened and I used to walk my 80 year old grandmother to the church. My grand-mother was so afraid because she saw a flood of biblical proportions happening, and she would stay in that church and pray all day.

Gerald McKay. Summer 2015.

Find us online at

HydroAlliance.ca

Continued on page 2.

02 Manitoba Hydro’s Preferred Development Plan 03 Ithinto Mechisowin Program

of OPCN 06 Hydro Alliance Participating Communitites Map 11 Effects of Hydro Land

Disruption 12 Fox Lake Cree Nation Update

Continued on page 2.

Jennifer Dysart’s film research has explored the complex and on-going history of South Indian Lake (SIL). Her most recent research has connected South Indian Lake with never before seen archival footage. The footage is the first time that the people of SIL were made aware of the plans to flood their lake by Manitoba Hydro. We had the honour of talking with Jennifer about her work, and her love for SIL.

Can you describe your most recent findings?

I have recently discovered lost archival footage from 1969 that was shot in the church of South Indian lake. This (archival footage) is the first time the people of SIL were told about the plans to flood the lake. The footage represents the moment in time that their lives were changed. In the film you can see the reaction shot of people who look stunned and confused. Culturally everything changed after that meeting. However, through my work I don’t want to just focus on the terrible history. I want to tell a positive story as well. I want to tell the story that despite the problems there is good stuff going on. That is why I’m reaching out to the community and interviewing elders who were in the footage.

How have you been able to tell the positive side of the South Indian Lake story?

Through my personal connection to the community I’ve become aware of the need to tell a story about the strength of the community. My dad was born and raised in South Indian and my family is still there. This has given me a different per-spective and affects the way I do my work. I don’t pretend to be an expert on the legal, the science or even the complete history; but I

Q+A With Jennifer DysartResearch Discovers Never Before Seen Footage

Continued on page 2.

Hydro Research Alliance Spring 2016 Newsletter

Manitoba Hydro’s Preferred Development PlanA Stakeholder Analysis

Jerry Buckland and Melanie O’Gorman

Hydroelectric development such as the Keeyask and Wuskwatim projects in Manitoba typically have large social and economic impacts. Some impacts are positive, such as jobs or training for community members, while others, such as dislocation or social disruption, are quite harmful. It is essential that hydroelec-tric development ensures an equitable distri-bution of the benefits and opportunities and a minimization of the costs and risks for this development. How this sharing takes place should in turn reflect the needs and desires of the stakeholders themselves, including Manitoba Hydro, Northern residents, and upstream and downstream First Nations com-munities surrounding the proposed dam sites. In our research we have explored different viewpoints of these stakeholders on the features and potential impacts of Manitoba Hydro developments.

Prior to the Public Utilities Board Hearing on Manitoba Hydro’s Need for and Alternatives to (NFAT) review of Manitoba Hydro’s Preferred Development Plan (PDP), we spoke to key informants about their views on hydroelectic development in Manitoba. Key informants were chosen based on their close relationship with the proposed Keeyask and Conawapa projects, either because they live in communities adjacent to the proposed dam sites, because they are aware of the project details based on their professional lives, or because they are concerned citizens.

A few informants felt strongly that the referenda held to approve Keeyask were not sufficiently democratic to provide community approval of the Keeyask project. For example, one informant remarked, regarding the referenda:

“It was a farce – it was not a democratic process. It was only held on one day. For such an important issue, why not hold multiple votes?”

Many commented on the momentum of the two hydroelectric projects. The sense was that there

were huge pressures driving these projects like the generation of revenue for the province through water rental fees or loan guarantees, as well as lucrative export contracts. They felt that these projects were moving forward regardless of any public process

such as the NFAT:

“There is a defeatist attitude with regard to Hydro. Lots of people don’t think they have much of a say over what occurs in the area with regard to Hydro.”

Some felt that the Keeyask and Conawapa projects provide the best opportunity for economic prosperity of all energy options facing Manitoba Hydro. They felt that these projects will bring much-needed jobs to the North, which will entail that more

young people will stay in the North. These individ-uals were also hopeful that construction of the new dams would stimulate much-needed business in Thompson and Gillam. They felt there are not many benefits for Northern and Aboriginal individuals from wind, solar, gas etc. relative to the PDP. One

“There is a defeatist attitude with regard to Hydro. Lots of people don’t think they have much of a say over what occurs in the area with regard to Hydro.”

Ithinto Mechisowin Program (IMP) is a community food sovereignty program run by community members of O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation (OPCN). OPCN, also known as South Indian Lake, was flooded by Manitoba Hydro’s Churchill River Diversion (CRD) project in 1974-75. The on going flooding causes a number of severe socioeconomic and ecologi-cal crises in the community. Increased cost of food and gas, high rate of unemployment, poor housing, and lack of access to land based food have been causing serious health crisis. Despite these chal-lenges, community members have been practicing cultural activities such as youth camping for har-vesting wild food and medicines. The community has two major youth camps in summer called Ki-wikapawetan and Wassasihk where the elders and adults in the community teach youth on different cultural practices in everyday life including harvest-ing, preparing and preserving land based food. In 2012, OPCN decided to build a community based food program to support food-harvesting youth training all through the year. The community elders and adults, the school, the band office and the health complex came together to start the program imme-

Ithinto Mechisowin ProgramOPCN Youth Training and Community Based Food Program

24

Future Directions…

24

Future Directions…

diately with in kind support. OPCN collaborated with University of Manitoba graduate student Asfia Kamal to play the role of a coordinator. The project is ap-preciated both nationally and internationally. Since 2013, besides in kind support from the school, band office and health complex, IMP has been receiving financial support from a non-governmental organi-zation, Tides Canada and Northern Healthy Foods Initiative, a food security program from the province of Manitoba.

Through this program local gardening initiative, wild food harvesting, preparation and preserving are being practiced sustainably. Elders and adults train OPCN youth for the food harvesting activities. The harvested food is shared with community Elders, single parents, and low-income families. Individuals suffering from diabetes receive mostly white fish, a staple that reduces sugar level. Other available land based foods are moose meat, Jack fish, blue berries, raspberries, duck, geese and medicines. The program distributes food to 300 people every month. The program invites interested young adults to volunteer during the food preparation workshops. Post flooding, a good number of adults in the community have lost their skills on cultural practices, including filleting fish, making bannock, fixing moose meat etc. IMP is hoping to revive these skills. Community members also donate extra harvested food to the program.

During the fall, IMP collaborates with community tourist lodge, Big Sand Lake Lodge. OPCN’s coor-dinator for Community Association of South Indian Lake (CASIL), Leslie Dysart leads these activities. Youth trainees are taken to the tourist lodge to learn different hunting techniques and brings back moose meat to the community which has been harvested by foreign tourist hunters. The event cost is shared between IMP and CASIL. Even though IMP is a community based collaborative initiative, it is closely supervised by OPCN’s Tommy Thomas Memorial Health Complex and Community Care. Food sharing and youth trainings are organized by program coor-dinator, John Bonner. Key members of IMP steering committee includes, Rene Linklator, Hilda Dysart, Shirley Ducharme, Steve Ducharme, Elder Vivian Moose, Barb Spence, Jennifer Linklater, Elder Louis Dumas and Josephine Dumas.

To date, OPCN has not received any major support from Hydro or the province as compensation. Re-gardless of the lack of support from Manitoba Hydro and the Province, OPCN’s IMP is going strong by renewing community cultural relationships.

South Indian Lake community members participating in the annual Kewekapawetan Gathering at the original site of the community. Photo Credit: Asfia Gulrukh Kamal

Artwork Credit: Jonathan Ventura.

“It is essential that hydroelectric development ensures an equitable distribution of the benefits and opportunities and a

minimization of the costs and risks for this development.”

person noted that development that accompanies the PDP could be transformational for the economy of First Nations communities:

“We need to move away from the Indian Act, and to achieve economic sovereignty.”

This individual felt that many speak of preserving ‘traditional’ economies but few people practice what they preach. He feels that the projects have and will affect livelihoods/traditions but people are re-sponsible for carrying on and not relying on others (outsiders).

With regard to Manitoba Hydro’s role in these projects, almost all key informants referenced the high cost of electricity in the North, despite dams being situated in the North. Manitoba Hydro’s PDP will bring about an increase in annual electricity rates. Since northern and Indigenous consumers have a higher percentage of low income persons relative to other parts of Manitoba, a rise in electric-ity rates will account for a disproportionately large share of their incomes.

Four informants expressed resentment over the concentration of the benefits of hydroelectric devel-

opment among southerners, fear of harmful social effects and the expectation of few economic benefits from the PDP in the North:

“We’d rather not have the projects. There is no amount of money that can compensate for the social upheaval. Peoples’ way of life will be destroyed.”

“Keeyask and Conawapa together could destroy Fox Lake’s social and cultural fabric. This fabric is currently held together by a thread. Conawapa would destroy it. Very few know Cree and fewer will with Conawapa. This erosion of Cree began with Kettle.”

Another informant noted that Manitoba Hydro negotiating benefits with some communi-ties and not others may also create tensions between First Nations communities in the North.

“There is a need to share the existing pie [of hy-droelectric revenue], rather than sharing new development revenue. For example, South Indian Lake and Cross Lake: what do they get? Just a rate increase. If this is a new era, it should be in all the areas not just the Keeyask Cree Nations.”

support affected communities.

We ultimately found funds to support two northern gatherings, and for a third gathering that will take place in the spring of 2016. Gatherings where community members could share more of their experiences with us. But more importantly, where community members could share and grieve with one another. Gatherings where we could also plan for the future together. It was at these gatherings that this cross-cultural Hydro Alliance was born.

Right now it is called Wa Ni Ska Tan, to “wake up” or “rise up” in Cree - although this name will likely evolve. Our core intent as an Alliance remains the same. To document the impacts of hydropower on communities and environments alike. To share this information as widely as possible. And to work for meaningful change and justice regarding these impacts. This will be achieved by supporting affected communities in whatever ways they decide are ap-

propriate. And by sharing with and learning from one another along the way.

Our first gathering was in Thompson. Our second gathering was in Opaskwayak Cree Nation. And our third will be in Brokenhead Ojibway Nation this coming spring. Over this time, the Alliance has grown. Participants already come from the northern and southern regions of the province. They reflect Cree, Anishinaabe, Oji-Cree, and Lakota heritage. They reflect a mix of Indigenous Elders, leaders, harvesters, youth, and other knowledge holders. They also reflect many allies, including represen-tatives from nongovernmental and government organizations as well as university professors and students.

Over the last 18 months we have submitted a $2.5 million proposal to help support this important work. And we will submit another $4 million proposal to provide equipment. We will find out if the first proposal was successful in the spring of 2016. Over this time, some student research on hydropower impacts has already begun. And we have created

this newsletter to help share many experiences, stories and ideas. Sharing among the members of Wa Ni Ska Tan but also with decision-makers and the outside public.

So thanks to the many community members and allies who have contributed to this first issue of the newsletter. Thanks especially to Joe Dipple and Jonathan Ventura who have done a huge amount of work as the founding co-editors. I know there will be many more future issues as we navigate our way forward. And please feel free to contribute in any way that you see appropriate. Articles, artwork, poetry, recipes, photos, feedback, ideas for future stories are all welcome – any and everything! And see you in Brokenhead if not sooner.

Thank you, merci. Stef

Welcome to the First Hydro Alliance Newsletter. Continued from page 1.

speak from the heart and my family connection.

Through my past research projects I’ve wanted to tell a story about the beautiful place that I love so much and that holds a piece of my heart. In 2008 I was invited to our family gathering, Kewekapawetan, which means going back, or looking back. It happens every summer at the original village site. Through one of my previous short films I realized I could tell that positive story about the family gathering and explain why those activities are so important to the community and to me.

Through my experience at events like the family gathering I realized that it doesn’t help a community that is going through a hard time to focus on the negative. It can create a sense of shame and it can feed a negative self-image of the community and about it’s strength. To an outsider you might miss how important these (traditional) activities are. You might only see a bunch of kids in the boat fishing, but those subtle activities are so profound.

Now that you have shown the archival footage to South Indian Lake, what is next?

I’m going to try to connect with as many people as possible about the footage. I want to do more interviews with those who were in the footage and are still alive, or people who remember that time and have something to add. There are at least five people from the footage that are still alive and they happen to be in my family. These five people were young in the 1969 footage but they are our elders now. They heard the opposing statements made by the elders in 1969 and we need to know what they have to say

about it 46 years later. We can’t wait any longer to interview these elders.

Overall, through my schooling I have a number of skills that can be put to use in the community and I hope to be able to do that. I want to make sure that I’m not seen as another researcher/filmmaker who takes something out of the community, without giving back. I’d like to give copies of my footage/ interviews to the community for their own use. While I was in SIL this summer, I got injured and had to cut my visit short, but I’ll be back to do the interviews I set up as soon as I can. Thank you Jennifer and to the SIL community for sharing their knowledge, and history.

Q&A With Jennifer Dysart Continued from page 1.

Peguis Community Garden InitiativeA Step to Regaining Food Security

Carl McCorrister

The Peguis Community Garden initiative is now in its fifth year. With a vision of “Regaining their heritage of Food Security,” it has continued to grow more land under cultivation with more people joining. Presently, the garden consists of 11 acres with more than 40 gardeners. The garden site has an arbour for gatherings where there have been workshops along with regular elder gatherings.

The garden project started with a small group who were interested in a “return to the land initiative” led by council member Darlene Bird, assisted by myself and elder Ernie Stranger, and a few others. The idea was to improve some land and produce fresh vegetables to show that we can regain some Food Security that our people had in early times. Histor-ically, Chief Peguis’ people were early farmers on the banks of the Red and played an important role in the establishment of the Red River Settlement in the early 1800’s.

The garden project has provided fresh vegetables to elders in the community, to our food bank, and a special purple potato (korube) to some of the diabetes patients in our community.

The garden initiative has created interest and awareness in the community and we must continue to build on this initiative to protect our future.

Carl and his grandkids with their garden produce at Neechi Commons

Manitoba and MinnesotaFuture Relationships

Steven Hoffman, St. Paul Minnesota

Great volumes of electrical current have long flowed between Manitoba and Minnesota. Indeed, some eleven percent of Minnesota's electricity comes from provincial dams, enabled by a series of high-voltage transmission lines, the first of which was completed in 1970, with additional lines being built in 1976 and 1980. While the bulk of this power is transmitted to Minnesota utilities, Hydro also provides significant power to Wisconsin Public Service.

Both Hydro and the American utilities are looking to build upon their current relationships. The Manitoba–Minnesota Transmission Project, for instance, envisions a 500 kilovolt AC transmission line in southeastern Manitoba along with associated station upgrades. With a projected in-service date of mid-2020, the project pencils out at some $350 million. The Project will connect to the 220 mile-long, $667 million Great Northern Transmission Line being constructed by Minnesota Power. Terminating in Duluth, Minnesota, the Line will, according to the American company, facilitate 883 MWs of incremen-tal Manitoba-US transfer capacity.

The transfers are predicated in part upon a series of new agreements between Manitoba Hydro and Minnesota and Wisconsin utilities, including a 250 MW Power Purchase Agreement and 133 MW Renewable Energy Optimization Agreement with Minnesota Power. The first sale, running in the 2016-2021 period, is for 108 MW of firm power and will initially take advantage of existing generation and transmission resources, after which it will use some of the capacity from the Keeyask Generating Station. The second sale is for 308 MW of firm power for up to 10 years and is scheduled to start in 2027. This sale is predicated on the successful completion of the Conawapa project, despite Manitoba’s Public Utilities Board recommending against the project. Hydro has also deepened its rela-tionship with Northern States Power via a 125 MW expansion of existing approved sales.

As in the past, the relationship with America’s upper Midwest is critical to Hydro’s financial viability. In 2013–14, for instance, the $439 million received by the company in export sales amounted to almost thirty-two percent of the company’s total revenues, with eighty-nine per cent of these sales deriving from the U.S. market. According to Hydro, since 2005, some $5.2 billion worth of revenue has been generated by export sales, a figure which is expected to rise to $16 billion over the next 20 years.

Effort to deepen the ties between Manitoba’s dams and Minnesota’s elec-tricity network continues in other arenas as well. Earlier last year, for instance, the Republican-led Minnesota House of Rep-resentatives sought to advance a bill that

would have counted large hydro towards the state’s R e n e w a b l e E n e r g y Standard re-q u i re m e n t s . While the RES provision ultimately did not find its way into the final Omnibus Energy bill, the effort was

sufficiently serious to prompt a visit to Minnesota from Cross Lake representa-tives and elders of the Pimicikamak tribe. At a regional level, Hydro is requesting that MISO, the region’s transmission system operator, model the impact of the Conawapa dam for purposes of the Clean Power Plan compliance.

All of the actions noted here will serve to perpetuate the deep and historical rela-tionship between Manitoba’s dams and Minnesota’s electricity consumers. More importantly, they should also serve as an occasion to remind Minnesotans of their responsibility to participate in the healing of the social, economic and environmen-tal wounds caused by the rush towards an ever larger and more consequential hy-droelectric generating system.

The Reawakening of the Elwha RiverRestoring the Past and Decommissioning Dams

Elder Robert Elofson Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, Seattle

Asfia Gulrukh Kamal University of Manitoba

The Elwha River has been the home of the Lower Elwha Klallam tribe since time immemorial. The community, a recognized sovereign tribe of the United States which had its constitution approved in 1968, had established a fishing economy until the construction of the Elwha dam. The dam was con-structed in the early 1900s by the Olympic Power and Development Company, in order to produce elec-tricity for the fast growing industries in the Olympic peninsula and the community of Port Angels in the state of Washington. The construction of the dam was completed in 1913 with a reservoir called Lake Aldwell. In 1925, a second dam called Glines Canyon dam and its reservoir, Lake Mills, was constructed by the Northwestern Power and Light Company, approximately 13 km upriver from the Elwha Dam. Although building of fish ladders were a require-ment of the US 1880 federal regulation, both dams were built without fish migration facilities.

The construction of the dams had disastrous effects on the salmon and trout habitat. According to community Elder Robert Elofson, after the dam’s con-struction only 7-10 percent of the fish habitat area was available. Sediment and gravel necessary for fish spawning was drastically reduced. The higher water temperature in the reservoirs was also not suitable for spawning. Additionally the rise of temperature increased parasite breeding and sometimes killing around 70 percent of the fish before they finish the spawning cycle. The outcome was the reduction of salmon return number from 400,000 down to 4,000. Besides damage of the fish habitat, construc-tion of the dams had severe affects on Elwha River ecosystem including the loss of vegetation in native forest areas and disturbance in wildlife migration around Elwha River.

The damaging impact of Elwha and Glines Canyon dam was reported to federal government a number of times through Federal Energy Recovery Commission.

Lower Elwha Klallam tribe appealed for a permanent solution to dam safety issues and loss of fishery. The safety issue was addressed but the fish loss was not until the enactment of Elwha River Ecosystem and Fisheries Restoration Act in 1992. Although by 1996 an environmental impact assessment report was completed which supported the dam removal, due to objections from local residents a hold in the dam removal funding delayed the project by a decade. The removal of both dams began in September, 2011 and was completed by 2014.

Although biologists say that a major revival of the river ecosystem from 100 years of damming will take more than 20 years, signs of quick recovery of forest resources and the return of the salmons are already visible after dam removal. Elder Elofson says; “People ask me why I look happy these days. It is because I see the gravel and the sediments are coming back, the riverbed is enlarged and the woody debris are

coming back. We have started to harvest shellfish again. Chinook (salmon) are back in the upper Elwha after a century! After all these years seeing this actually happening is entirely different.”

Currently Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe is partnering with Seattle’s Olympic National Park, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, National Oceanic and Atmospher-ic Administration, US Geological Survey and Coastal Watershed Institute on the Elwha River restoration project. Besides the US, river rights are recognized in countries like New Zealand and Ecuador through state regulations. Canada should also plan a future with alter-native energy production and dam removal to restore environmental and cultural rights.

Elwha dam after completion of dam removal. Photo Credit: Asfia Gulrukh Kamal, July 2015.

Grand Rapids, Summer 2015. Photo Credit: Jonahan Ventura.

“This sale is predicated on the successful

completion of the Conawapa project, despite Manitoba’s

Public Utilities Board recommending

against the project.”

“According to Hydro, since 2005, some

$5.2 billion worth of revenue has been

generated by export sales, a figure which is expected to rise to $16 billion over the

next 20 years.”

In Passing: Steven M. Hoffman

Dr. Steven Hoffman a professor at University of St. Thomas and co-supporter with Wa Ni Ska Tan Hydro Alliance, passed suddenly on November 23rd 2015. He leaves behind a legacy of community service and inspiration to many including his family, pupils, friends, and co-workers. Steven was well known for his commitment to social and environmental justice, and his openness to work with others on community oriented and inclusive decision-making projects.

In 2008, working with Canadian scholar Thibault Martin, Steven edited and published the definitive book of scholarly essays on economic and environmental

justice issues surrounding Canadian hydropower in Manitoba and Quebec: Power Struggle: Hydro Development and First Nations in Manitoba and Quebec.  He was also a director of Clean Water Action  – Minnesota, director of Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness, and director and chair of Minnesotans for an Energy-Efficient Envi-ronment.

Steven leaves his love and passion for a better world in the hearts of many including his sons, Daniel and Michael, and his fiancée, Denise.

Dr. Steven Hoffman. Photo courtesy of the University of St. Thomas.

“It is a partnership based on the belief that breaking the cycle of poverty requires a holistic

and sustainable solution.”

-United Nations Statement.

Hydro Alliance Participating Communities MapList of Communities in Attendance

“We used to have the second largest whitefish fishery in North America. Second only to the Great Lakes. We used to produce one million pounds of export grade whitefish. In my lifetime we’re down to less than 10 percent of that.”

- Les Dysart O-Pipon-Na-Piwin (South Indian Lake) Cree Nation

“I’m glad that outside communities are actually watching us. I hope you learn from us. Learn because what they’ve done to us is they basically ripped us right off and they set us up for failure.”

- Carol Kobliski Nisichawayasihk (Nelson House) Cree Nation

“Island Lake is not directly affected [...] with the dams, electric dams, and our elders teach us that our land is still pristine in the Island Lake communities. We still drink from the water. We’re fortunate to drink from the lake of Island Lake.”

- Byron BeardyWaasikamaank (Wasagamack) First Nation

“The water that flows through my community, the water that flows 100 feet away from my front door, I see it go by. I see it come and go every time the curtain in Jenpeg is open or closes. It affects us big time.”

- Langford Saunders Kinosao Sipi (Norway House) Cree Nation

“We’re all affected. One way or another.”

- Patricia Mitchell Makadewaagamijiwanoonsing (Black River) First Nation21

01

04

06

07

1509

13

17

18

1608

11 14

03

05

12

02

10

01 Baaskaandibewi-ziibiing (Brokenhead) Ojibway Nation

02 Canupawakpa (Pipestone) Dakota Nation

03 Kistiganwacheeng (Garden Hill / Island Lake) First Nation

04 Makadewaagamijiwanoonsing (Black River) First Nation

05 Makaso Sakikan (Fox Lake) Cree Nation

06 Misipawistik (Grand Rapids) Cree Nation

07 Mosakahiken (Moose Lake) Cree Nation

08 Nisichawayasihk (Nelson House) Cree Nation

09 Kinosawi Sipi (Norway House) Cree Nation

10 O-Pipon-Na-Piwin (South Indian Lake) Cree Nation

11 Okawamithikani (Granville Lake) Cree Nation

12 Oshki-ishkonigan (Peguis) First Nation

13 Pimicikamak (Cross Lake)

14 Tastaskweyak (Split Lake) Cree Nation

15 Opaskwayak (The Pas) Cree Nation

16 Thompson

17 Waasikamaank (Wasagamack) First Nation

18 Wabowden

19 Zaagiing (Sagkeeng) First Nation

Gaa-biskigamaag (Swan Lake) First Nation

Winnipeg

Fishing at Tastaskweyak (Split Lake) Cree Nation

19

20

21

“December 16th, 2015 marks the 38th birthday of the [northern flood] agreement. And since its inception nothing much has happened but destruction and it’s the destruction that has opened up many eyes of our people.”

- Mervin Garrick Pimicikamak (Cross Lake) Cree Nation

20

Partnership GatheringThe Pas, MB - June 2015

Kelly Janz, University of Manitoba

Over the course of three days 60 community members, researchers and NGO representa-tives met in The Pas to discuss the impacts of hydro development in Manitoba. A total of 19 communities were represented. This was the second meeting held in the North to facilitate a Research Alliance around issues related to hydro development and it built on the work of the first meeting held in Thompson in December 2014.

The Gathering kicked off on Wednesday night with a fish fry, hosted by Drs. Stan and Peggy Wilson and Dr. Alex Wilson of Opaskwayak Cree Nation. The evening provided some informal networking – and dancing thanks to local and award-winning talent, Caitlyn Arm-strong’s fine fiddling – before getting down to business Thursday morning.

During Thursday’s full-day session partici-pants provided community updates on hydro impacts, negotiations, grassroots organizing, and other events. Gerald McKay and Viola McKay gave a moving presentation on the personal trauma they experienced growing up in the middle of a hydro development project in Grand Rapids and urged those present to think deeply about a truth and reconcilia-tion process related to hydro development. Thursday ended with a formal dinner and hoop dance performance by Jackson Beardy III, with drumming by his father Byron Beardy. Niki Ashton, MP for Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, also attended the dinner.

The final day of the Gathering provided time for the Research Alliance to start brainstorming community projects and research priorities. These ideas were recorded to inform the full Partnership Grant application and were made available to the Research Alliance in late August. The final discussion of the Research Alliance revolved around the name. Elder David Lathlin from Moose Lake suggested a temporary name that was accepted by those present. The name, Wa Ni Ska Tan – to rise up in mind, body, and spirit - will be used for reporting purposes until the next gathering when a proper ceremony will be held to choose the name for the Alliance.

Many people live with a deep sense of anger and grief about the way in which the northern Hydro project has damaged lands and divided communities. Hydro bills are a monthly reminder of the pain Hydro causes in the north.

Part of the healing comes from diverting anger and grief toward positive action. Pain has to be harnessed in a good way.

What would happen if hydro-affected peoples would get together to work toward three goals:

Power NorthA Proposal for Positive Change

Will Braun, Interchurch Council on Hydropower

1. Lower Hydro Bills

All Manitobans pay the same per kilowatt hour of electricity, but hydro-affected people have much higher bills each month because they use much more electricity. (Think of it like all Manitobans paying the same price for a litre of gas but some people being forced to use far more gas). High bills in the north are largely because of cold temperatures and poor housing.

The people most affected by hydro should have the lowest bills not the highest.

Hydro-affected communities should not be subject to the predicted 3.95% annual increase in hydro rates. Instead, they should get 15% off the current rates. That would mean that a household that pays an average of $2,400 per year ($200 per month) would save more than $8,000 over 10 years.

Many people feel they should have free hydro. While that is legitimate feeling, successful campaigns must be built one step at a time around achievable goals.

2. Northern Power Smart Programs

Hydro has programs to improve insulation, lighting and appliances so that homes use less electricity. These programs reduce hydro bills and improve the quality of homes. But they are hard to access in the north. Hydro should make such programs easily available and free in hydro-affected communities.

3. Consent and Benefit-Sharing

No projects—including Bipole III—should go ahead without the free, prior and informed consent of affected Indigenous people. Also, all affected peoples should have access to the benefits of hydro projects. The simplest way of doing this would be for the province to redirect the $125 million per year they receive in water rental fees to affected communities.

These three points do not cover everyone's concerns; they are however relevant to all hydro-affected peoples. As such they provide a way to bring people together around a common cause. Hydro has undermined democracy in the north for decades. It's time to come together.

Canada is entering an era of reconciliation. Premier Selinger and his ministers have spoken repeatedly about the need for reconciliation with hydro-affected peoples. Understandably, some northerners question the sincerity of such words, but still, they provide an opening. Northerners shouldn't wait around to see what Hydro and government will do, they should set the agenda for reconciliation in a healthy, constructive, creative way.

If you are interested in discussing these ideas further in your community or with people from other communities contact me at wbraun@inbox.com or (204) 822-8288.

Northern Lights. Robert Spence, Tataskweyak Cree Nation.

OPCN, a northern Manitoba Indigenous community, is suffering from a severe flooding that started in the mid-70’s. Flooding has been caused by Manitoba Hydro’s Churchill River Diversion Project and forced the relocation of the community. The flooding has created a disasso-ciation from land based culture, reduced access to wild food, unemployment, and inadequate health services. All of these issues have resulted in poverty, food insecurity and related socioeco-nomic community issues. Many families in the community do not have running water or proper sewage systems installed in their homes, with only 200 homes for 1,200 people, many homes also do not have proper insulation which raises hydro bills significantly in the winter. The communities fishery is at stake, resulting in a number of the community

members to live on social assistants, and with rising food costs people are forced to buy unhealthy canned food. Health is another major concern. A Canadian doctor is flown in from Paris, France, to serve 1,200 people in the community once a month for only one and a half days

Manitoba Hydro, and both the provincial and federal govern-ments continue to fail to address these issues in OPCN and a number of other flood affected communities in northern Manitoba. Many OPCN members

are deeply concerned for their younger generation and elders who are suffering the most. While attending a funeral recently, a community member said; “every year we see untimely and unnatural death in the community, it shows that our youth are not getting enough support if they are in trouble. Only 30-40 years back we used to have close to 20 elders who were more than 100 years old, living very active lives. Now, our elders are sick and they are dying early... We need support right now, today, not tomorrow.”

O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation:Forward Thinking

Asfia Gulrukh Kamal

Fish Fry and Hydro Alliance Gathering in Opaskwayak Cree Nation, May 2014 Photo Credits: Jonathan Ventura.

Photo Credit: Jonahan Ventura.

Effects of Hyrdoelectric Land DisruptionReflections on the OCN Territory

Stan Wilson, Opaskwayak Cree Nation

When I was growing up in OCN territory there were no man-made changes to the river system. People used to go out hunting and fishing during all seasons and I often tagged along. There seemed an abundance of natural resources for harvesting. Many times I saw the hunters deliberately not shoot the first moose or the first flock of ducks that they came across. They would say, “Ekwanik inna ka iskonamawanawak koosimina wak - We will leave those ones so that they will propagate their own kind. Our grandchil-dren will need them to survive.” They were either supremely confident as hunters knowing they would be successful or there was such an abundance of game it was just a matter of time before they would fill their hunting needs anyway. This was a cultural practice that I witnessed many times.

In 1962, as young teachers, my wife Peggy and I flew into Moose Lake with Tom Lamb. When we arrived I mentioned to Tom that I had counted nine moose on the flight from The Pas to Moose Lake, he looked at me with a somewhat nostalgic air and said “When I started flying the same route I often counted up to 90 moose.” I wondered aloud whether the rapid increase in the human population and consequently over-hunting had anything to do with the decrease or whether other factors were also at play?

From our teacherage windows along the shores of Moose Lake, each spring and fall, we would see huge flocks of migrating swans. The bay in front of the community of Moose Lake held perfect water levels and feed, an ideal stop-over for several days before continuing on their migratory path.

When the water level rose in the spring of 1965 from the dam at Grand Rapids the swans arrived as usual on their way up north. But this time they left promptly. The water level was too high and they couldn’t reach the plants that they fed on. They never returned after that. Their migration route was altered henceforth. I wonder how many other adjustments have been made by the natural inhabitants and other users of the area. What are the intergenerational effects? How beneficial or debilitating have those changes been?

As natural sources of fish, meat and plants have diminished or become extinct, new processed foods have replaced the natural. I have seen many of my own community members change from vibrant, healthy, enthusiastic peoples to unhealthy, dis-couraged individuals. Diabetes rates effect a huge portion of our population. Obesity rates are growing and only a few members live beyond 70 years of age.

Not all of these diseases stem from hydro and its effects on the eco system. Modernity in itself has brought change; some positive and some negative. We cannot stay fixed in any given era but must move forward. Yet the Aboriginal population seems to have been most negatively impacted, to a large extend because of our personal relation-ship to the land. The spiritual connection that we had to our food sources has been disconnected.

Family clans have been severed and because we are a relational people, our relationships to the environment and our cosmology, places us in a state of upheaval. It is almost like our bodies have been evacuated to somewhere foreign and unhealthy.

It seems that the planners of the hydro-electric projects were interested only in the technical and economic aspects of producing electric-ity. The only other consideration was that if any family was to be adversely affected by the water levels there was to be some compen-sation such as relocating. There didn’t seem to be any research on how the project would impact the social and economic conditions of the people whose ancestors had lived on those lands for centuries and had adapted to the natural vicissitudes of the area. The natural seasonal fluctuation of water levels was part of the people’s knowledge and they knew how to live within those conditions. Any long lasting changes to the environment was an entirely new experience.

Moose. Artist: Robert Spence, Tataskweyak Cree Nation.

Water in the Athabasca River has been threatened by some of the largest resource extraction projects in North America including oil sands development. Last year the Athabasca River was at a seasonal record low, with September flows dropping to 346 m3/s at the Fort McMurray gauge. This is extremely concerning because the Athabasca River is central to the Dene way of life. The low flow translates directly into widespread disruption of First Nation people’s ability to exercise their traditional practices. Water levels are so low that many Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN) members are unable able to access hunting sites, harvest areas, and fishing locations.

News from Across CanadaAthabasca Chipewyan First Nation Requests Oil Sands Operators to Suspend Water Withdrawls

Written by: Community Based Monitoring Program

Community Based Monitoring Program Samples Water

“Given the seriousness of the situation the ACFN is requesting that Oil Sands operators refrain from withdrawals until such a time that water levels can again support our Aboriginal navigation needs.”

- Lisa King, Director of ACFN IRC

The community-based monitoring, CBM, program has been tracking changes to water and land on traditional areas. Members of both Mikisew Cree First Nation and Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation have relied on monitoring that combines science and traditional knowledge to better understand the environmental changes they see at both local and regional scales.

Along with research undertaken by The Firelight Group in 2010, the CBM has allowed for a better un-derstanding of thresholds for minimum water levels. An Aboriginal Base Flow threshold (ABF), reflects necessary water levels on the Athabasca River and adjacent streams for ACFN members to fully access their territories. A conservative estimate of this level is 1600 m3/s.

A second threshold, an Aboriginal Extreme Flow (AXF), reflects the water levels that would cause widespread and extreme disruption of Treaty and Aboriginal rights along the Athabasca River and its tributaries due to a loss of access related to low waters. Preliminary assessment of four years of field data gathered by ACFN Community-Based Monitoring now suggests that the AXF threshold occurs at approximately 500 m3/s. Considering the AXF threshold is 500 m3/s, current seasonal flows

are well below the point at which ACFN members lose access to most of their territory. Industry with-drawals are now directly threatening what limited access remains. The situation is so serious that the cumulative 3-4 m3/s rate of withdrawal that industry self-reports now represents the difference between minimal local access and no access whatsoever.

There are clear, significant and direct impacts on Aboriginal rights resulting from the oil sands industry. The seriousness of the situation is clear and there is simply no room left for industry to withdraw water without exacerbating the ACFN’s ability to access their territory.

“We reiterate the request to cease all water withdraw-als at this time to protect the rights of our people.”

- Lisa King, Director of ACFN IRC

We just experienced the longest federal campaign in Canada’s

recent history. In many ways this was a good thing. It allowed social justice organizations the time to bring up important issues with federal candidates, such as food insecurity and food sovereignty. This was the case for Food Secure Canada, a national alliance of individuals and organizations, who worked tirelessly throughout the election to advocate for food security and sovereignty on behalf of all Canadians.

Through its campaign, Eat Think Vote, Food Secure Canada and its partners organized food events across the country that brought community and federal candidates together over a meal to discuss food issues in Canada. The events provided a platform to educate and advocate for changes to Canada’s approach to food policy.

One main focus of the campaign was affordable food in northern communities. Northern communi-ties rely on both traditional (wild) and market food, and the cost of both harvesting food and shipping

Eat Think Vote for Affordable Food in the NorthReflecting on the 2015 Federal Election

Kelly Janz, University of Manitoba

food is extremely high. Nutrition North Canada has also been widely criticized for failing to provide lower prices to consumers in northern communities.

Food Secure Canada and its partners advocated for a number of policy changes during the election to ensure northern communities have access to affordable food. These include:

• A national food policy that includes the northern context

• Recognition of the right to food for Indigenous Peoples in Canada

• Sustainable funding for Community Food Co-ordinators in all northern communities

• A basic income floor adjusted to reflect northern costs

• Major changes to Nutrition North Canada

These investments represent a holistic, coordinat-ed approach at multiple levels to address northern food insecurity and ensure food sovereignty. The truth is that, “northern community members know their realities best and have knowledge and ideas about how to address food insecurity” (FSC, 2015). However, communities need support in order to do this.

Although the election has come and gone, the need for affordable healthy food in northern communities is here now. You may be tired of all the election talk, but now is the time to call up your newly elected MP and remind them that affordable food in the North is important to you.

For more information on affordable food in the northern communities, go to: http://campaign.food-securecanada.org/affordable-food-in-the-north

Election forum held at Indian and Metis Friendship Centre of Winnipeg. Jonathan Ventura.

Monitoring ChangesDocumenting Traditional Knowledge in Pimickamak (Cross Lake) Cree Nation

Jackson Osborne, a Cree elder and resident of Pimicikamak (Cross Lake) Cree Nation, has been collecting traditional knowledge on and about the history of his nation’s traditional land for about 30 years. He has dedicated his life to docu-menting changes occurring in the natural environment, along Pimicikamak’s shorelines and its surrounding environments, through photos and videos. Recently Jackson has archived over 300 photos that depict the status of the land before and after hydro development.

01 Year Period: 2010-2019

“The cross that you see represents a young person, my nephew, who drowned in the shoreline. The younger generation in Cross Lake do not fully understand that the level of water fluctuates…the water is muddy, green and brown…they had a hard time finding him under the water.”

02 Year Period: 1960-1969“In 1968, the water was clear, you could see the rocks at the bottom…the water was clean before Jenpeg was construct-ed, it was stable and had its natural flow. After the project, the water fluctuates, mercury and green.”

03 Year Period: 2000-2009“During fall, we used to go skating. The ice was beautiful, like glass. However, after the construction of Jenpeg, there was lots of ripples on the ice. So we could not skate because this brought the slush…my ski-doo gets stuck when there is lots of slush and lots of water…this is dangerous.”

04 Year Period: 2000-2009“The water is not clean..mercury and green..don’t know what it is but I see it along the shorelines…sometimes its blue and green...I don’t know what it is. There is always debris…islands eroding away…trees falling in the water…making it vey dangerous to navigate on the water.”

01

04

0302

Much has been changing in the homeland of the Fox Lake Cree Nation. Throughout the years, Gillam has changed from a supportive Indigenous and CN town to a racially divided Hydro town. However, the changes that can be seen from the invasion of Manitoba Hydro in this area is nowhere more obvious than in the forest surrounding the town. With the construction of the Keeyask Generating Station and Bipole III transmission corridor, the trees and lake surrounding Gillam have been destroyed.

Following the trail of the Buttnau Dike road, you can see areas of the forest completely torn down for the powerlines. In this area was the trapline of Noah Massan, a community member living in this area for all his life. He has used this trapline for much of his life, and before that the trapline belonged to his father as well as many others before him. Before Hydro came to the community, the trapline provided beaver, muskrat, fisher, otter, mink, lynx, wolf, moose, and woodlands caribou. Now, the trapline can only produce beaver, otter, wolf, fox, marten, and weasel.

To make matters worse, Hydro has clear cut much of the trapline for a transmission corridor leading to Keeyask. This destruction of the trapline makes it much more difficult for Noah and his helpers to trap animals in this area. Despite all the immense damage brought about by this construction, Noah and his helpers still attempt to trap in the trapline, even in areas with signs stating “Authorized personnel only.”

Hydro Research Alliance Newsletter Contributors

Principal Investigator:

Stef McLachlan, University of Manitoba stephane.mclachlan@umanitoba.ca

Editors / Research Assistants:

Joe Dipple, University of Manitoba joedipple13@gmail.com

Jonathan Ventura, University of Manitoba jonathangventura@gmail.com

Kelly Janz, University of Manitoba kelly.janz@umanitoba.ca

Newsletter Design:

Dayna Kroeker, University of Manitoba kroeker.dayna@gmail.com

Issue Contributors:

Will Braun Jerry Buckland Ryan Duplassie Jennifer Dysart Elder Robert Elofson Steve Hoffman Asfia Gulrukh Kamal

Noah Massan Carl McCorrister Gerald McKay Ivan Moose Melanie O’Gorman Robert Spence Stan Wilson

Questions and Comments:

Environmental Conservation Lab 303 Wallace Building, University of Manitoba R3T 2N2 Winnipeg, MB

Ph: 1.867.872.0081 www.EnvironmentalConservationLab.com

Funding provided by:

Fox Lake Cree NationCommunity Voice

Ivan Moose and Noah Massan

Photo Credit: Ivan Moose

Photo Credit: Joe Dipple

Photo Credit: Joe Dipple

mafra logo and poster designs summer 2010

Clean Environment Commission on Lake Winnipeg Regulation (LWR)Erosion and Pollution Concerns

Ryan DuplassieUniversity of Manitoba

In 2015 Manitoba’s Clean Environment Commission (CEC) held hearings with concerned Lake Winnipeg citizens, groups, and communities in advance of Manitoba Hydro’s final license to regulate lake levels for hydro-electric production. From January to April 2015, the CEC heard a consistent and harrowing story, and the tale is worth repeating: erosion and pollution, erosion and pollution.

Manitoba Hydro consistently maintained throughout the process “that Lake Winnipeg is not affected by Lake Winnipeg Regulation (LWR). No evidence to the contrary was provided.” There were numerous calls by First Nations, citizens, and interest groups for impartial envi-ronmental impact assessments around Lake Winnipeg before a final license is granted. Again, Manitoba Hydro’s official response was that LWR has only had a benign effect on Lake Winnipeg levels, and that LWR has no bearing or influence on contaminants entering the Lake Winnipeg watershed. Manitoba Hydro’s position is that it has satisfied all provincial criteria and therefore “is entitled to the final license.”

Several calls were made throughout the CEC process to have Manitoba Hydro involved - alongside the provincial and federal governments, First Nations, and all other concerned “stakeholders” – in a respectful investigation into environmental impacts that foregrounds Aboriginal and Treaty rights and the use of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) in the process.

The CEC’s final report was released in October 2015. Among a number of conclusions and recommendations, the CEC found that LWR had a negative effect on people living downstream and was partly responsible for the decline of the Netley-Libau Marsh. The CEC recommended that the Government of Manitoba require relicensing of hydro projects to be done under The Environment Act, not just the Water Power Act. The Province has accepted this recommendation in relation to Lake Winnipeg Regulation.

Hydro Dam in the Mist. Photo Credit: Jonathan Ventura.

The CEC Report on Lake Winnipeg Regulation can be found at: www.cecmanitoba.ca/resource/hearings/33/LWR_WEB.pdf.

The CEC Hearings on Lake Winnipeg Regulation can be found at:www.cecmanitoba.ca/hearings/index.cfm?hearingid=33#3