By Molly Gibson Kirby Manitoba Hydro employees continue to be locked out of staff housing at the Jenpeg Generating Station on the Nelson River. Pimicikamak Okimawin Cree Nation (PCN) members evicted staff from housing at the generating station in October, and will not take the locks off until the process agreement is signed and Premier Selinger comes to Cross Lake. Anthonie Koop, a spokesperson for Manitoba Hydro, says there are still workers at the dam. “We still have protesters at site. But we do have staff within the powerhouse, continuing to operate the station.” Koop says workers have been doing shift changes, with the permission of PCN. “We need permission from the First Nation leadership prior to doing any shift changes. We continue to work at the generating station but we do not have free access to either enter or exist the station.” In a press release dated Nov. 5, Pimicikamak chief Cathy Merrick said a memorandum of agreement (MOA) has been signed. The agreement has received signatures by representatives from Manitoba Hydro, the Manitoba government, and Pimicikamak. Merrick says because of the MOA the protesters have hope. “We look forward to turning the commitments into major on-the-ground change. That is what our people need.” Pimicikamak wants a public apology by Premier Greg Selinger for the past and present damages Manitoba Hydro has caused for people and land, Merrick says. The community of Cross Lake also wants a commitment from the province and Manitoba Hydro in regard to the 1977 Northern Flood Agreement. “I believe the implementation of the Northern flood agreement can put our nation on a path to increasing social and economic independence.” Koop says Manitoba Hydro wants operations to go back to normal, but does not know when that will happen. “We don’t know at this time when those locks will be removed. It looks like that will happen once we have a formal agreement on the process going forward for discussing the issues raised by PCN.” Nickel Belt News tried to reach Selinger about visiting Cross Lake, but the call has not been returned. - See more at: thompsoncitizen.net/news/nickel-belt/protesters-stand-their-ground-at-the-jenpeg-generating-station-1.1549896#sthash.1PzGoz1w.dpuf
Posted on: Fri, 14 Nov 2014 10:41:05 +0000
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