Site C approval a 'Christmas present' says McLeod Lake Indian Band chief

The chief of the McLeod Lake Indian Band in northern B.C. says the NDP's decision to move forward with the Site C dam project is "a Christmas present" and advised other Indigenous leaders to start negotiating economic benefits from theproject.

"I saw the writing on the wall a long time ago," said McLeod Lake Indian Band (MLIB) Chief Harley Chingee. "This project is too important for our government to shoot it down."

Chingee said the dam will bring jobs to his band, whose main community is located about 250 kilometres southwest of Site C.

He is one of few Indigenous leaders to speak in favour of the controversial dam.

On Monday, Premier John Horgan announced his government will allow construction of the dam to move forward, drawing negative reaction from many Indigenousleaders.

The West Moberly and Prophet River First Nations have vowed to go to court to stop the project, the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs condemned the NDP'sapproval of the project and numerous Indigenous groups in Alberta and the Northwest Territories have expressed concerns over the downstream effects of the dam on their respective regions.

Some First Nations that have signed agreements with BC Hydro have remained silent on the project.

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However, theMcLeodLake Indian Bandurged the NDP government to press forward.

In itssubmission to the B.C. Utilities Commission review of Site C, the bandwarned that stopping construction of the dam wouldbe an "economic catastrophe" and would set back the new relationship the MLIBhave entered into with BC Hydro."

In a sworn affidavit, Chingee said the Site C marks an opportunity to make up for past wrongs, contrasting it with the W.A.C. Bennettdamin the 1960s.

The construction of thatprojectflooded more than155,000 hectares ofMcLeodLake Indian Band territory, causing severe hardship.

"Members could not trap, hunt or fish like they used to," the affidavit reads. "Members lost the ability to provide for themselves and the ability to pass those traditional skills on to their children.By the 1980s, almost all members had abandoned trapping... many MLIB members had to go on social assistance."

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Chingee said the negative impacts of Site C on bandland was "minimal", while agreements giving band members access to jobs and contracts would help with "economic reconciliation" and self-sufficiency.

In 2000, McLeodLake became signatories to the 1899 Treaty No. 8, which covers much of northeast B.C.

Thoseagreements also allow the bandto select roughly1,012hectaresof Crown land to be added to itsterritory and includepayments from Hydro to the band.

Chingeetold Radio West host Sarah Pentonthat whilenegotiations are ongoing, he expected the final amount to be "nine figures, minimum."

When asked about the concerns of other First Nations who say hunting and burialgrounds and cultural spaces will be destroyed by Site C, Chingeesaid he didn't think anything would stop Site C from moving forward so they should "get on board."

"The opportunity only happens once in a lifetime," he said.

"And it's a big one."

In 2016, BC Hydro acknowledged the impactthe W.A.C. Bennett dam had on First Nations and Mtis communities and, in the agreement signed with the MacLeod Lake Indian Band,BCHydro says,"We will not repeat the mistakes of our past."

In a submission to the B.C.Utiltlies Commission, BC Hydro said Site C will not affect any reserve land or land owned by First Nations.