Please support O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation (South Indian Lake) by signing this petition and asking Ms. Sarah Guillemard, Minister of Conservation and Climate, to say no to Manitoba Hydro’s request for a final license to destroy the land, water, wildlife, and Indigenous peoples in Northern Manitoba.
SAY NO to a permanent Augmented Flow Program (AFP)!
In the early seventies, South Indian Lake, a small, isolated First Nations village on a lake of the same name on the Churchill River was a happy and prosperous place for over 500 First Nations people. There was no unemployment, no welfare, and the culture was reminiscent of what I understand it was like in pre-contact days. I was fortunate to have lived there in those days and it changed my life.
There was no unemployment, no welfare, and the culture was reminiscent of what I understand it was like in pre-contact days.
Jim Senka as a Department of FIsheries and Oceans biologist on the Opachuana near South Indian Lake.
Then, in 1977, Manitoba Hydro raised the water level of the lake 10 feet, ruining the water quality of the lake and the fishery.
SIL and the fishery was the 3rd largest lake whitefish fishery in North America, and their product was sold internationally. They lived a sustainable lifestyle from their surrounding environment that has been forever altered by the hydrodam. Under the loose oversight and permission of Manitoba, which has profited from this destruction, the community’s economy is in collapse. Meanwhile the Community became a very depressed area – something the people there don’t talk about because, like all First Nations folks, they’re proud people.
Recently, Manitoba Hydro has applied for a permanent license for their Augmented Flow Program (AFP) which would allow them to fluctuate the level of the water between high and low extremes in the lake, which does even more damage. A decision is due in late February 2021.
The Final Licence being applied for is, in fact, a licence alteration from the original terms of the 1973 Churchill River Diversion Interim Licence, which did not include the AFP. Manitoba is allowing Manitoba Hydro to attempt to have the terms of the AFP as the licence without any independent analysis, both environmentally and financially. This is a very loose interpretation of legislation that is not honourable and must not be allowed to proceed.
This is the short version of the story, but the bottom line is that what Manitoba Hydro has done to South Indian Lake is an act of genocide, in addition to massive environmental destruction. Check out the attached APTN doc for more info.
The good folks of this community can use the support of people like the Council of Canadians. Please consider sending an email to Minister Sarah Guillemard (Minister of Conservation and Climate) asking her not to rule in favor of a permanent license to Manitoba Hydro for the Augmented Flow program, and asking her to commission an independent study that doesn’t externalize the damage done to that community.
Minister Guillemard’s email address is mincc@leg.gov.mb.ca
You could also cc the following (and feel free to share this link):
Chief Shirley Ducharme,O-Pipon-Na-Piwin/South Indian Lake shirley.ducharme55@gmail.com
Wab Kinew, Leader, Manitoba New Democratic Party, wab.kinew@leg.gov.mb.ca
James Beddome, Leader, Manitoba Green Party, leader@greenparty.mb.ca
Dougald Lamont, Leader, Manitoba Liberal Party, dougald.lamont@leg.gov.mb.ca
Hon. Brian Pallister, Premier of Manitoba, premier@leg.gov.mb.ca
Hon. Eileen Clarke-Agassiz, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Relations, minindnr@leg.gov.mb.ca
Thanks for your help!
Jim Senka (for the people of South Indian Lake)
Guest Contributor: Jim Senka is a retired biologist who spent most of his career in the field of environmental studies and enforcement with both industry and Government (Federal and Provincial). He lived and worked at South Indian Lake for 3 years prior to Manitoba Hydro devastation of the area. During his sojourn at South Indian Lake he developed a deep respect for the people of the area.