RE: RE: GITANYOW on war path,TROUBLE a brewing
Correct me if I am wrong !! ( following points correspond to highlighted areas in order )
-BC Hydro disregarding rights - why is a crown Corp disregarding rights !! because Gitanyow are being unreasonable ?
-Gitanyow has/continues to see devastation - Well already a road ( Hgyway 37 and powerline KV138 line running through their property ). Government has been down this path already and succeeded
-BC Hydro refuses to discuss revenue sharing with Gitanyow and only informed after Feb 21/2011 despite directive from BC Utilities commission = could be any reason but I noticed other Bands are being offered a chance to finance this project - maybe they need to be updated first of all then let the Bands deal.
-Gitanyow been at the table for a year already / = Gitanyow concerned will not receive any benefit from future projects North of their land = So also want benefit from outside their own land ( They are one of the smallest bands so is this a way to try to incorporate a non existant larger land base in their treaty )
- Gitanyow wants reassurance from BC Hydro that if deal terms change down road due to NTL they get favoured with new agreement. Can't present definitive plan on the impact already yet alone receive benefit from unknown impacts?? Would they sign if revenue sharing drops for unknown reasons ?/
- RESPONSE from BC HYDRO = take it or leave. BC Hydro have an alternative to this whole concern as no crown corp can go ahead and say that without Government involvement as you have to remember who they get their lead from.
Correct me if I am wrong but I DO NOT see any significant delay here !
GITANYOW HEREDITARY CHIEFS
BC HYDRO STOPS NORTHWEST TRANSMISSION LINE ("NTL") NEGOTIATIONS WITH GITANYOW
After over a year of attempting to negotiate with BC Hydro regarding the
proposed NTL line to be constructed through Gitanyow Territory, on April 11, the
Gitanyow Chiefs were told by BC Hydro's representative that BC Hydro has
responded "No" to the outstanding issues.
Malii stated: "BC Hydro is completely disregarding Gitanyow's rights and our way
of life. Over 90% of the Gitanyow still depend on the resources from the land.
BC Hydro believes that they can completely disregard our way of life and
bulldoze over Gitanyow rights as was done in the 1920's when our grandfathers
were imprisoned for protecting our land. This cannot and will not be
tolerated."
An estimated 47% of the proposed 344 kilometre NTL route shall pass through
Gitanyow Territory and create an ever-widening corridor for development north of
Gitanyow, including major mining and other projects.
Gitanyow estimates that they will lose a total area of between 440 to 550
hectares of land with an estimated value of $1.6 to $2.1 million dollars. The
cumulative impact on Gitanyow wildlife, fish, plants, resource gathering sites
and village sites will be devastating for future Gitanyow generations.
Gitanyow has already seen and continue to experience the devastation in their
Territory through wide-spread logging, failure to fulfill silviculture
obligations, development of the 138 kv line and construction of the Highway 37
through Gitanyow Territory. "We are not prepared to allow overwhelming
cumulative impacts within our Territory, depriving our people of their ability
to sustain themselves", said Sii Dook (Deborah Good).
Gitanyow has now been at the table for over a year with BC Hydro trying to work
towards a fair agreement that will address the protection of their lands and
resources. Gitanyow is concerned that the NTL will allow for developments to
the north of Gitanyow Territory and, under present Government policy, Gitanyow
will receive no benefit.
BC Hydro has refused to engage in any revenue sharing from the NTL with
Gitanyow. Gitanyow was not informed of this until February 21, 2011. This is
despite the directive from the BC Utilities Commission to BC Hydro in early
February 2011 to engage in revenue sharing discussions with Aboriginal Nations
whose rights will be impacted by transmission line projects.
The Gitanyow continued to try to work with BC Hydro to resolve the issues by
ensuring long-term protection through support for an Access Management Plan, a
Wildlife Management Plan, a Vegetation Management Plan and a Land Use Assessment
Plan. The minimal interest BC Hydro has demonstrated about the major impact of
this Project and protection for Gitanyow's future generations is reflected by
their proposal to have only one meeting to discuss all of these matters. No
such meeting has occurred.
Gitanyow sought assurance from BC Hydro that if the Government policy regarding
revenue sharing concerning transmission lines changed, Gitanyow would obtain
that benefit with respect to the NTL. BC Hydro will not make such a clear
commitment.
Gitanyow has one of the smallest reserves within British Columbia. In the
1920s, the predecessors of the present Chiefs went to jail to protect their
lands, after tearing up the surveyor's stakes. Gitanyow has spent over a year
trying to educate the Crown monopoly, BC Hydro, as to how important Gitanyow
lands and resources are to the Gitanyow and the need to work together to protect
those lands.
The response of BC Hydro, after over a year of "negotiations", is "take it or
leave it" and a refusal to continue to engage with Gitanyow on the critical
issues for the Gitanyow.
Gitanyow will be seeking an early meeting with the Minister responsible for BC
Hydro, the Honourable Rich Coleman, and Premier Christy Clark, to determine if
the government will be able to work with Gitanyow to address true and fair
reconciliation and to direct BC Hydro to engage in true reconciliation with
Gitanyow regarding this massive Project through Gitanyow Territory.
-30-