Support For Highway 37 Electrification Noted
By 250 News
Thursday, January 22, 2009 01:13 PM
Prince George, B.C.- Although some First Nations leaders chose not to attend the Economic Summit in Prince George, saying it was more politics than substance, that view is not shared by all First Nations.
Elmer Derrick, Hereditary Chief of the Gitxsan Nation told delegates he recognized the frustration of some First Nations who chose not to take part but, “Those of us in this hall are all of the same heart.” He said the aboriginal leaders attending the summit are all dedicated to the same purpose and that is to find solutions to the economic challenges currently being faced.
The challenge is much more daunting for First Nations says Derrick, “We cannot relate to an unemployment rate of 10%, we can relate to 95% unemployment so our starting points are different, but we’re all looking at the same thing.”
Derrick says a fellow First Nations leader asked him to pass along a message “We’re going to build the Highway 37 power line, we believe we have to take the steps to open up the opportunities north of Kitwanga and Hazelton. We can see major developments happen over the next decades so we have to find a way to get that power line developed.” He said he hoped the Minister of Finance could find the money to get that line developed.
Later, another speaker requested the line be extended past Bob Quinn and be carried all the way through to Dease Lake.
The environmental review process is underway, and the Province has maintained it is willing to share the costs of extending power to that part of the province, however, industry (primarily mining) says build the line first and the industry willo come.
The bottom line says Derrick is that we are all here to stay “We all want the same thing for our children, we all want them to look forward to a better future. We are all willing to work hard to make a better future for all of our members.”
Previous Story - Next Story
Email
Print
Facebook
Twitter
Digg
Del.icio.usReturn to Home
Posted by: gamblor on January 22 2009 2:29 PM