Cheslatta Seek Rights to Water
Monday, September 30, 2013 @ 4:00 AM
Prince George, B.C.- Later this morning the Cheslatta Carrier Nation will be submitting an application for a water license in order to proceed with the Nechako River Legacy Project.
The $280 million dollar project would see water that is released at the Kenney Dam, directed to the old Nechako River bed, and create 5 miles of river in the Nechako canyon, which has been dry since 1952. The Cheslatta have been in discussions with BC Hydro to develop a run of river hydro project that will ensure the project is economically viable.
In addition to creating an economic boost for the Cheslatta, the project would also redirect water away from Cheslatta gravesites. High water releases in the past have flooded out graves, the most recent occurance in May of 2012.
In a release issued last evening, the Cheslatta say they will reinvest some of the revenue generated from power sales to create a legacy fund “to stimulate the environmental, social and economic rehabilitation of the upper Nechako watershed and begin a revitalization process for the Cheslatta land and people.”
Much of the Cheslatta traditional territory was flooded by the Kenney Dam in 1952 forcing the Cheslatta to relocate.
Comments
Yes, an excellent plan to create jobs and economic value but DPJ the folks here don’t have much thought about the subject of first nations. Most are more concerned about what is going on in foreign countries.
$280 million ? Which piggy bank us getting cracked open ? It will be closer to a $billion spent and still no water if it is like many other projects!
There would be so many benefits for that project it is hard to list them all. The benefits would last for generations and allow the Nechako River to be more like a natural river again, though much smaller than the original. Sure hope they are successful in their application, previous attempts at this kind of idea have been stone-walled to death.
Can’t imagine why an article on such a project would cause someone (DPJ) to use it as an opportunity to peddle such unrelated crap.
Seems to me that the Provincial Government and Rio Tinto Alcan have some responsibility in having this water returned to the old Nechako Canyon. This should be done with tax and private Rio Tinto dollars, and forget about generating electricity. Especially when we have to pay such a high price for private power.
In any event I thought the Government was going to back away from IPP.
Furthermore the Nechako Canyon is a protected area as of the year 2000. So can they build a power project and still protect the area????
Lots of questions, few answers.
Protected against what? Flooding?
An interesting viewpoint from someone in the NW Brigade Paddling Club.
http://paddlepg.blogspot.ca/2010/07/story-of-nechako-river.html
In the words of Chief Peters, the application starts the process of taking back the stolen water from over 60 years ago. The government turned over the water in Cheslatta Traditional Territory to a company which made billions of dollars and is continuing to do so.
He thinks it is ironic that they have to pay over $10,000 to apply for part of a water license for which Rio Tinto Alcan pays $5 a year.
Such is the plight of the First Nations in the hinterlands of BC.
Out of sight, out of mind.
What I am saying that this is a progressive one and the ones who like to continually blockade roads are not progressive. Same issues related to anyone (at the moment, natives are in the limelight)
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