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Important Voting Dates:
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| BP Amoco: April 19, 2001 |
| Chevron: April 25, 2001 |
| Coca Cola: April 18, 2001 |
| ExxonMobil: May 30, 2001 |
| Xcel Energy: April 25, 2001 |
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For more information contact:
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| Michael Passoff |
| As You Sow Foundation |
| San Francisco, CA 94104 |
| Phone: (415) 291-9867 |
| Email: |
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Hydro Facing $100-M Lawsuit Northern Band Claims
Water Contaminated
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| Winnipeg Free Press |
| Tuesday, January 23, 2001 |
| By Alexandra Paul |
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THE Pimicikamak Cree Nation launched a $100 million
lawsuit against ManitobaHydro yesterday that was timed to counter
a $1.2 million lawsuit Hydro filed last week against the first
nation over mounting electricity bills. The latest legal action
raises the ante in the litigious relations between Pimicikamak,
formerly known as Cross Lake, and the Crown utility that built
the Nelson River hydroelectric dam.
The hydroelectric development has been soundly criticized in
government studies for destroying the northern Cree traditional
way of life. Eight people have committed suicide and another
200 have tried to take their lives in the last two years, Tommy
Monias, secretary to the four councils of the Pimicikamak's
traditional government, said as an illustration of the despair
in the community.
Ecological catastrophe |
This time the issue is safe drinking water, reporters
were told at a Winnipeg news conference on the case. "In the
words of the 1999 Inter-Church Inquiry into Northern Flooding,
we live with an ecological catastrophe, with filthy, contaminated,
unhealthy water in which our people have no faith," Monias said.
The community of about 5,500 draws drinking water from the Nelson
River and its treatment plant uses double the normal amount
of chlorine to clean it. Northerners believe there is a double
standard at work after seeing the quick action that's taken
when water quality is tainted in non-aboriginal communities.
The Pimicikamak claim asks the arbitrator to make an interim
award on the electricity bills issue before considering the
water quality complaint. The claim notes Pimicikamak set up
a trust fund to collect hydro bill payments after residents
and businesses refused to pay the bills in protest over failure
of parts of the Northern Flood Agreement. The agreement compensates
northern bands adversely affected by hydroelectric projects.
Dispute |
A total of $2 million has been collected in the trust fund
held by the Pimicikamak First Nation, but that money had not
been turned over to Manitoba Hydro when the utility filed
its $1.2 million lawsuit. The claim notes that Pimicikamak
believes the dispute over electricity bills is affecting its
fiscal housing funds from Indian Affairs.
"Indian Affairs, has apparently at the request of (Hydro)
withheld a ministerial guarantee for CLFN's housing program
for 2000-2001, thereby halting construction of desperately
needed houses."
Pimicikamak lawyer Colin Gillespie said that sending the hydro
bill dispute to the arbitrator is intended to compel Hydro
to accept the trust fund as payment and to get action on drinking-water
quality.
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