Hydro-Quebec got a lesson to remember about the Cree point of view when its top executives traveled to Eastmain and Nemaska for the first time last month.
Hydro chairman André Caillé and other utility officials visited the two communities to give details of their latest proposed hydro-electric project: a dam on the Eastmain River and diversion of the Rupert.
“It was a highly charged, emotional meeting. People shed a lot of tears,” reported Chief George Wapachee of the meeting in Nemaska.
“The main message they got was we were opposed, very opposed, to what they wanted to do.”
Audience members in Nemaska showed their opinion by handing back a pamphlet Hydro was giving out to sell the project. Members of the Band Council walked out to register their protest against how the meeting was proceeding.
One trapper apparently tapped Steven Bearskin, president of Cree Construction, on the head with a microphone because of Bearskin’s reported view that development could bring needed jobs.
The trapper later apologized to Bearskin. We couldn’t reach Bearskin for comment.
“They were thinking not only of our children now, but their children’s children,” Wapachee said. “It was really good to hear people speaking up. It was quite uplifting.”
Many Nemaska people recalled how they were “misled” into moving their community from their old site in the ’70s by Hydro-Quebec, which said the old site was slated to be flooded. The flooding never transpired because Hydro’s attention shifted to the La Grande River, which was flooded instead.
Eastmain residents apparently reacted the same way as in Nemaska. Hydro will be visiting Mistissini this week. Waskaganish also will be involved at some point.
Under the Hydro proposal, the Rupert would be diverted at KM 314 or KM 490, according to a report we obtained in May. The river’s flow would be reduced by up to 76 per cent. The project would be one of the utility’s biggest, producing 7.5 terrawatt-hours of electricity.
Chief Kenneth Gilpin of Eastmain welcomed Hydro’s promise to seek Cree consent before proceeding. “We feel it’s a new ballgame,” he said.
“I think everybody has to understand that a Cree would never allow you to destroy their way of life without first consulting the person directly affected by any development. It was something that didn’t happen in the past.”
Asked how people reacted at the meet-ings, Gilpin said, “People realize the economy in the region is low. A lot of people have problems. I don’t think we can survive on only that (the Cree way of life). It’s something any trapper will tell you.”
Ted Moses, an Eastmain resident and former Grand Chief, said Crees’ opinion on hydro development hasn’t changed. “They’re still opposed.” As for jobs, he said Hydro-Quebec has disappointed Crees in the past with its unfulfilled promises.
“There’s no question we need jobs, but I don’t think we can say hydro development hascreated many jobs, even when we had an agreement on jobs with Hydro-Quebec.”
