The Quebec government says Crees have no special rights to review the Mégiscane River hydro project, even though it is on Cree land.
Cree officials aren’t happy that the environmental-review process of the JBNQA isn’t being honoured.
“It’s on Cree land. That’s Waswanipi land to us,” said Chief John Kitchen of Waswanipi.
“Look at the river, where’s it’s going. Or the history. If you look at the JBNQA, it defines the territory. Waswanipi has been hunting in those areas. They still do.”
Quebec’s Environment Ministry informed Grand Chief Matthew of its decision in a May 19 letter. It said the project will be reviewed only by the process that applies in southern Quebec, not the process set up in the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (JBNQA).
“This procedure guarantees a profound analysis of the biophysical and social impacts related to the project,” writes Diane Gaudet, deputy minister.
Hydro-Quebec officials met with Cree representatives in Val d’Or to discuss the project on June 29. James O’Reilly, a Cree legal advisor, described the meeting as an “information session.” He said Hydro “was told of the Cree position that Cree consent is needed for the project.
Hydro-Quebec’s diversion of the Mégiscane River will affect Crees, Algonquins and Atikamekw.
Initial assessments say the Bell River, which the Mégiscane
River feeds into, will be reduced by 17 per cent of its original size, according to Hydro-Quebec documents. The Nottaway River will be reduced by 7 per cent, according Hydro.
HQ spokesperson Marc Laliberté said the impacts will be felt mostly on the Mégiscane River and will be less serious further north.
But the federal Fisheries Dept, says there is a possibility of sturgeon in the area being put on the endangered list even before the planned river diversion is built.
The Mégiscane and Bell rivers are major sturgeon spawning grounds. Waswanipi Crees once had a commercial fishing license on the Bell River. Construction is expected to start next year.
Laliberté said Hydro is talking to everyone who might be impacted. He said affected residents will be involved in working groups that will look at Hydro’s field studies. This is to “involve people in the process,” said Laliberté.
Laliberté said the Algonquins of Pikogan and Lac Simon have agreed to participate in the studies of the project, while the Crees have not.
Laliberté said the decision to ignore the JBNQA review process wasn’t a Hydro-Quebec decision.
“The provincial government is the one who said we weren’t under that process, but we still have to meet with the Crees.
We will involve them in the process in the same way as the Algonquin and Atikamekw.”
