Stronger voice, stronger bond
Northern Manitoba aboriginal communities become allies to restore the lives of their people after hydropower dam construction

Indigenous views of hydroelectric dams in Northern Manitoba have varied historically from village to village, but a change is in the making, according to Chief John Miswagon of the Pimicikamak Cree Nation. He and members of four other native communities "are finally getting together to talk about a common goal,” said Miswagon. “We will focus on bringing justice back to our people...and it’s a slow moving process.”

The five communities are signatories of the Northern Flood Agreement (NFA), as are the government of Manitoba, the Canadian federal government, and Manitoba Hydro, a publicly owned company based in Winnipeg. Under the NFA, the Canadian government committed to mitigating environmental damage and helping the Cree communities recover from the blight to their land. The five communities are now joining together to push for implementation of the NFA.

Hydroelectric dam construction in Northern Manitoba has been controversial since the 1970s. Since then, thousands of acres of land have been damaged by flooding waters, and the economy—traditionally reliant on hunting and fishing—has been destroyed. While most residents believe that the NFA has not been fulfilled, Manitoba Hydro disagrees with these claims.

A top priority for the alliance is the rehabilitation of shorelines that once defined their way of life. “This dam construction has changed who we are as a people,” Miswagon explained. “We need to look at what we can do as a group to move this cleanup forward.”

The dams have disrupted the native peoples' way of life, and current statistics highlight the urgency of the issue. Since dam development, unemployment rates have ranged between 70 and 90 percent, four bedroom homes sometimes house as many as 14 people, and a new rise in methamphetamine use has been noted among the youth of the community. “People see the environment as a way to make money, but we see it as our way of life,” Miswagon said. “These dams have changed our health and our social economic psyche.”

Educating the public on why hydropower should not be considered renewable is another goal of this alliance. The North Dakota House recently unanimously passed HB-1193, introduced at the request of the Basin Electric Power Cooperative. The bill classifies electricity generated from all hydropower—regardless of size or social and economic impact—as renewable, and it enables electric utilities to count the power as part of their renewable energy requirement. “If hydropower is renewable, where are my islands?” Miswagon questioned.

Chief Miswagon envisions a return to the communities' traditional way of life. “All we are asking for is the agreement to be upheld,” Miswagon said. “Rehabilitate the shore and move debris from the water so we can continue our traditional ways.”

Green Green Water, a documentary which highlights the destruction of these Indigenous communities, will be shown on February 17th at 7:30 PM at the “See the Light” Energy Film Festival, held at the Minneapolis College of Art & Design. For more information about the festival, please see www.northstar.sierraclub.org. To learn more about Green Green Water or reserve a copy of hte DVD, visit www.greengreenwater.com.

Navajo elders fight to block construction of coal plant
Controversial plant inspires protests, support

The planned development of a new coal-fired power plant in Four Corners, New Mexico has caused a rift among Navajo Nation tribal members.

Not all Navajos want the Desert Rock Energy Project built on Navajo land. In early December, several Navajos camped at the site of the proposed plant, demanding that officials show them the permits that are required to begin survey work for the project and Elouise Brown, a member of the Dooda Desert Rock Committee, a group opposed to the development of the power plant, stopped a worker from accessing the development site. Members of the committee were later forced to move off the development site by local law enforcement.

However, some Navajos support plant development. Joe Shirley Jr., president of the Navajo Nation, believes a proposed $3 billion coal plant built on tribal land is desperately needed. Many tribal members live without electricity and running water and jobs are often scarce. Shirley believes the project could help alleviate these problems.

Since the forced removal of the protestors, an agreement has been reached that allows work to move forward on the site while protests by tribal members can continue.

For more information, go to www.desert-rock-blog.com.

Support this service! Become a member of Fresh Energy.

Fresh Energy is a nonprofit organization leading the transition to a clean energy system. One that supports the health of our economies, our people, and our environment while moving us toward energy independence. www.fresh-energy.org