Crees of Whapmagoostui Will Fight Hydro-Quebec
7/31/97
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Headline: Crees of Whapmagoostui Will Fight Hydro-Quebec
Source: Canada Newswire
For further information: Chief Matthew Mukash: Tel.
819-929-3484 (office) or 929-3718 (after 5:00 p.m.),
David Masty, WFN Executive Director: Tel. 819-929-3494 or
3367 (after 5:00 p.m.), or George Masty,
WFN Deputy Chief: Tel. 819-929-3484/
Date: 7/31/97
THE CREES OF WHAPMAGOOSTUI (GREAT WHALE RIVER) VOW TO
CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR THEIR RIVER WHICH IS STILL THE TARGET
OF HYDRO-QUEBEC IN ITS PLANS TO UPGRADE ITS EXISTING
INSTALLATIONS AT LA GRANDE
WHAPMAGOOSTUI, Quebec, July 31 /CNW/ via Individual Inc. --
The Crees of Whapmagoostui (Great Whale River) held a
referendum on Hydro-Quebec,s proposal to divert the Great
Whale River into the existing reservoirs of La Grand Complex.
Ninety-two percent (92%) of the electorate who cast their
votes on Wednesday, July 29, 1997 are in favour of a
continued opposition to any development project having to do
with an alteration of the Great Whale River on which their
community is situated.
``This is a very strong mandate for the Cree leadership,''
said Chief Matthew Mukash, who has been reelected for a third
term as leader of the Cree community of Great Whale River, in
an election that took place at the end of June l997. ``My
people are determined to stand up against any project having
to do with the destruction of land, water and other resources
that have sustained us as a people since time immemorial,
and I am very happy about that. No amount of money in the
world can replace the type of destruction that took place at
La Grande, and this is not going to happen here'', he added.
The community was concerned with media reports in June which
seemed to say that the Crees are ready to negotiate with
Hydro-Quebec and the Government of Quebec on future
development projects. According to Chief Mukash, there have
been hordes of calls from supporters from practically all
over the world asking what is going on. ``We are greatly
concerned about what the media reports have done.''
``Everybody seems to be thinking that we are ready to sit
down with Hydro-Quebec and the government of Quebec and let
them build dams as they please'', said David Masty, the
community's Executive Director and spokesman. ``That is a
notion that shouldn't be in the mind of anybody, and we are
going to do something about it. This project will not be
discussed by the Crees with Hydro-Quebec.''
``Whapmagoostui had decided to launch a campaign against the
proposed diversion of the Great Whale River, although the
plan by Hydro-Quebec is at a very preliminary stage,'' said
the town's Deputy Chief, George Masty. ``It's better to
attack the idea before it materializes any further and much
money is spent on it. We are planning to go all out by any
means we can as a community to prevent the destruction of the
land, water and our way of life. Our future generations and
other people will need this land for healing, because there
aren't many wilderness areas in the world for this purpose.''
Local older Andrew Natachequan, whose trapline would be
affected by HQ's diversion plan, is concerned with the fact
that the diversion of the river to the La Grande will
necessarily flood all of Lake Bienville, the head waters of
the Great Whale River. ``This is unacceptable,'' he said.
``Lake Bienville is a sacred area. It is the heart of the
land. Its huge water area contains all kinds of fish that has
sustained the Eeyouch. It is the central calving ground for
the inland caribou. Bird and animals of all kinds have used
and continue to use this area as a sanctuary. It just cannot
be touched by man. Any alteration to it will bring bad luck
to the perpetrator because it is a sacred area.''
/For further information: Chief Matthew Mukash: Tel.
819-929-3484 (office) or 929-3718 (after 5:00 p.m.),
David Masty, WFN Executive Director: Tel. 819-929-3494 or
3367 (after 5:00 p.m.), or George Masty,
WFN Deputy Chief: Tel. 819-929-3484/
[Canada Newswire]