Nishnawbe Aski Nation Responds to Ontario Manitoba Joint Hydro Announcement
Nishnawbe Aski Nation
News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 20, 2003
Nishnawbe Aski Nation Responds to Ontario Manitoba Joint Hydro Announcement
(THUNDER BAY, ON) Ontario and Manitoba Premiers Eves and Doer, today announced intentions to move forward hydro generation plans between the provinces of Ontario and Manitoba. In response, Grand Chief Stan Beardy of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation, provided his own preliminary comments so as to ensure that First Nations interests are appropriately represented and the proposed project does not reach a future impasse due to a lack of consultation. He states, "Ontario is precisely aware of NAN's consultation process with its First Nations and hopes that be included in future plans and discussions with Manitoba.
He adds that, "First Nations are not opposed to such discussions but need to know where they fit in." He cautions that in these discussions, Aboriginal rights and the energy needs of NAN's First Nations should also be playing an important role, stating that, "when regulatory regimes related to land and water use come into play, there will be significant impact to Aboriginal and Treaty rights, and that this has been affirmed time and time again through federal Supreme Court of Canada rulings."
He adds that not only are First Nations interested in these issues, but they are also poising to take on a different role. Rather than solely responding to hydro development proposals, First Nations are seeking opportunities for economic development in the energy sector. "They want to be involved right from the start," states Grand Chief Beardy.
Thus far, NAN is disappointed with the lack of consultation that has tainted this process, and would like to see this change. Grand Chief Beardy states that it is instances such as this where First Nations are left out of the process and are forced later to take actions such as legal challenges, such as that of the Ruperts Land case recently filed by the Mushkegowuk Chiefs of James Bay in NAN.
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Media inquiries: Grand Chief Beardy (807) 623-8228 or by Cell: (807) 626-6745