Province , Hydro Reach Agreement with Tsay Keh Dene

Monday, March 30, 2009 12:51 PM

The Province and BC Hydro have initialled a final agreement with the Tsay Keh Dene Band that, once ratified, will address the longstanding grievances from the creation and operation of the W.A.C. Bennett Dam and Williston Reservoir in the Peace River Valley region.

The agreement will provide a one-time payment of $26.5 million and settlements payments of $2 million annually, recognizing the permanent impacts of the reservoir on the Tsay Keh Dene's community. The creation of the reservoir led to severe flooding in the Peace River Valley area and forced the Tsay Keh Dene to move to another location within their traditional territory.

"We have borne a substantial burden in the name of progress," says Tsay Keh Dene Chief Ella Pierre. "Finalization of negotiations on this agreement provides our community with a rare, indeed historic, opportunity to take the initiative on a way forward for our people -both current and future generations."

A ratification vote is tentatively scheduled by Tsay Keh Dene in late June of this year. Subject to a positive vote outcome, the Final Agreement will be signed by all parties in July.

The Final Agreement with Tsay Keh Dene follows the completion of a Final Agreement between the Province, BC Hydro and Kwadacha First Nation, which was signed on Nov. 27, 2008.

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Posted on Monday, March 30, 2009 12:51 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: gamblor on March 30 2009 2:06 PM

Thats good news - the city dug up my yard to fix a water line 10 years ago. "I have borne a substantial burden in the name of progress". I'll be eagerly watching my mailbox for my $26 mil. Should arrive any day now...

Posted by: gamblor on March 30 2009 2:11 PM

Posted by: seamutt on March 30 2009 3:21 PM

The non natives that lived in that area, what do they get?

Posted by: RRrabbitt on March 30 2009 3:26 PM

Ahh... Seamutt... I could post you a picture of what we got when we were flooded out by progress...(progress that we did not disagree with)... but there are much too many sensitive eyes watching ... so it is best not to offend.

:-)

V.

Posted by: herbster on March 30 2009 3:39 PM

I think the Christian ideal is to help your neighbour and not to beggar him. In that spirit why don't we applaud the fact that over 40 years after the dam was built, the band finally has got something approaching just compensation. Here is a corporation that really does have roots in our community, and is doing something to right a past wrong.
From Wikipedia, on building the WAC Bennett Dam.
"The Tsay Keh Dene, formerly known as the Ingenika band, comprising some 125 families, were moved from their traditional village site, where they supported themselves by hunting and trapping, to what were supposed to be model reserves a couple of hundred kilometres south near the booming mill town of Mackenzie. The entire band received a total compensation of $35,000."

Posted by: Loki on March 30 2009 3:43 PM

maybe they should have requested a bailout.
They would have got billions.

Posted by: BCRacer on March 30 2009 3:52 PM

I have no doubt more money will be headed their way once site 3 gets going...I have no doubt it is going to happen...all these talks and information sessions, in my opinion , have been a bunch of smoke and mirrors for something that is going to happen!

Posted by: Loki on March 30 2009 5:15 PM

bcracer: you were expecting something to have changed? It is the same old, same old. Those that govern will decide what is to be done just enough to get through the next election and keep their jobs. It has nothing to do with common sense, efficiency or doing the right thing.

It would have been and still is cheaper to settle this today, now, immediately. In thirty some years or whatever the period is, they were given $35k and now are collecting $26 million.

For gods sake, pay them whatever they are asking for and make them sign an agreement that they will never come back for more.

At this rate of inflation even a bail out will not suffice. Get the dam land claims over with already.

Aboriginals have been unfairly displaced all over the world when a society with superior technology and a thirst for resources shows up. Canada is over one hundred years old and there is not one original aboriginal left, just their descendants.

It is time to finish this stupid hindrance to our advancement as a society and as a country.

Posted by: lostfaith on March 31 2009 10:26 AM

"For gods sake, pay them whatever they are asking for and make them sign an agreement that they will never come back for more."

Theres rational thinking for you.

Posted by: metalman on March 31 2009 2:49 PM

Without prejudice: where would the Ingenika band be today if the dam had never been built? Still living beside the river I would say.
No airstrip with daily flights, probably no road either, unless a resource co. put one through, and has anybody calculated the value of improvements the band has received because of the dam? It is fair to say the TKD had to move to make way for the reservoir, but the governments/b.c. hydro paid for the moves (both times) and will pay for the third move if required and continue to subsidize the people who live there. This "one time" payment is baloney too, the Nis'ga made a final agreement, then were back asking for more ten or twelve years later. We need to get these claims behind us to truly move forward for the future as one people
(probably too much to ask for)
metalman.

Posted by: Quaddin on April 1 2009 11:14 AM

Yes round and round we go. Looks like a race war looming.