Carrier Sekani Win Another Round in Battle Against Kemano

Tuesday, February 24, 2009 09:32 AM

Prince George, B.C.- Carrier Sekani Tribal Council Chief David Luggi says with Aboriginal rights and title, his people will continue to battle the 1987 Alcan agreement which gave Alcan the right to the Nechako River.

B.C. Court of Appeals has ruled there was no consultation with First Nations, in fact, the Court ruled there was “massive infringement on the rights of the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council” which is just one of several First Nations with a claim in the area.

Chief Luggi, speaking on the Meisner program this morning, on CFISFM and on Opinion 250 through live streaming audio, says the Kemano project is “the most devastating environmental impact in our region.”

“The Court of Appeal says there has to be more work done here, there has to be more consultation”. The First Nations were not consulted on the Kemano power project nor were they consulted on the expansion near Kitimat. The Court said the BCUC was wrong when it approved the electricity purchase agreement between Rio Tinto Alcan and BC Hydro a year ago.

Chief Luggi would like to see enough water returned to the Nechako system to support Salmon and Sturgeon stocks. “Better water flows, economic accommodation and compensation for the First Nations who have been impacted by this project. If that means more water flows for the fish to have a better chance of survival and reduced revenue from electricity”

He says they haven’t sat down to determine a compensation figure, and because the Kemano project is an on going project, the First Nations would like to see all the numbers from all the sales and benefits of that plant before working out a final agreement.

“We’re going to give some time to the other parties to evaluate this decision, and we’re going to see if any discussions will occur.”

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Posted on Tuesday, February 24, 2009 09:32 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: downnotout on February 24 2009 10:08 AM

right on Alcan got the rights to the river because they were building a smelter at Kitamat to employ people. If they are selling power all that money should belong to the province because that is not what that power was meant for.

Posted by: seamutt on February 24 2009 10:21 AM

From what I understand 70% of the Nechako is wild.Just how much effect does the other 30% really have. Does anyone have real factual information?

Posted by: swingline on February 24 2009 10:41 AM

If the money is to belong to the government, they should run it. You can't expect a private company to do business just for the sake of it. They're in it to make a profit, energy is the same as any other product. But this story is about consultation, not selling power.

Posted by: billposer on February 24 2009 10:56 AM

seamutt,

What exactly do you mean by 70% of the Nechako being "wild"? The flow of water in the Nechako is about 25% of the natural flow.
In addition to the impact of the lowering of water flows, there is also the impact of the flooding caused by the dams. 490 square kilometers (120,000 acres) was flooded.

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on February 24 2009 1:42 PM

Anytime the native start squawking I think of the set line at the junction of the Stuart and Nechako that I found. The locals were trying to kill the last sturgeon in the Nechako River. Nice.

I pulled the line up, cut the float free, threw the meat back in the river and the empty hook to the bottom. The native leadership talks the talk, but none of the natives are walking the walk. Kill everything in sight, it's the only tradition I have seen in the bush.

Posted by: He speaks on February 24 2009 1:50 PM

Yep, they may have won the argument, but thats not going to change anything.

Pardon the pun, but Luggi can put another feather in his hat to say he won the argument.

Posted by: seamutt on February 24 2009 2:18 PM

Okay billposer lets drain all the dam dams. I'll show you how to rub two sticks together.. I have read that 70% of the flow of the Nechako is wild and unregulated while the other 30% is influenced by Alcan.

Posted by: northman on February 24 2009 4:21 PM

They want to increase the flow into the nechako watershed? Correct me if im wrong but doesnt this create more ice jams?

Posted by: Eagleone on February 25 2009 6:40 AM

All I know is a foreign multinational should not control our river or profit from its control.

If the whole Kemano was given to the natives as war crime compensation for their forced evictions when the dam was created I would be happier than I am with the current arrangement.

I think Kemano should be nationalized to BC Hydro and the natives compensated for their lost homes and communities in its creation is the most sensible solution.