In all, three representatives are leading a tour to better understand the context in which Quebec hydropower is produced.
The City of New York has clearly indicated that it is interested in purchasing hydropower from Quebec and we sent a small delegation to meet with First Nations to better understand their relationship to hydropower by making sure to get this first-hand information. hand
, explains Mark Chambers, director of the sustainable development office [sustainability office] from the mayor of New York.
City delegates have notably visited the Innu community of Ekuanitshit, in Minganie, over the past few days.
The leader of Ekuanitshit, Jean-Charles Piétacho, said to himself honored and surprised
that the City of New York come and find out about the satisfaction of its community with regard to the agreement reached with Hydro-Québec.
The Chief of the Innu of Ekuanitshit, Jean-Charles Piétacho
Photo: Radio-Canada / Marc-Antoine Mageau
—
They want to get information before buying electricity in Quebec. First of all, they want to consult us adequately, and that is greatly appreciated.
Chief Piétacho also explains that he has been invited to travel to New York to continue discussions with the administration of the metropolis.
On Wednesday, New York representatives spent part of the day in the community of Pessamit, near Baie-Comeau.
Chief René Simon explains that New Yorkers especially wanted to know whether human rights and the environment were respected by Hydro-Quebec. He said he replied that the rights of the Native people had been violated since, according to him, the Innu were not consulted in the construction of the majority of the north-coastal dams.
He says he’s satisfied with the meeting and says New Yorkers will want to involve indigenous communities in the negotiations.
Representatives of the American metropolis also met with Bill Namagoose, the executive director of the Cree Nation government and the Grand Council of the Crees of Eeyou Istchee.
Bill Namagoose, Director General of the Cree Nation Government.
Photo : CBC / Jaime Little
—
They came at the request of Mayor Bill de Blasio. Before negotiating with Hydro-Québec for the purchase of energy, they want to know the potential impact of this source of energy on the people who live in these territories.
, he explains.
According to Mr. Namagoose, before committing to Hydro-Québec, New York City wants to ensure that human rights will be respected and that cultural and environmental issues will be taken into consideration.
A matter of value, says New York
It’s not just a question of electricity, it’s also a question of always making sure to represent our values
, argues Mark Chambers, of the New York City Administration.
Mark Chambers, Director of the Office for Sustainable Development [sustainability office] from the mayor of New York.
—
This means guaranteeing our ability to obtain low-carbon electricity, but also our ability to fight inequalities.
, he continues.
Busy tours
During the first day of the visit to the Innu of Ekuanitshit, the representatives observed the sites of the four dams on the Romaine River from a helicopter. They also went to the islands of the Mingan archipelago.
The next day, representatives were able to meet young people and elders from the community at the Maison de la culture Innu.
The general manager of the Grand Council of the Crees of Eeyou Istchee, Bill Namagoose, for his part, first met the representatives in Montreal before taking off with them to the north.
<q data-attributes="{"lang":{"value":"fr","label":"Français"},"value":{"html":"Nous nous sommes rendus au complexe LaGrande and visited the Central Robert-Bourassa. We visited Chisasibi, the community most affected by the La complexGreat in the 70s and we visited Waskaganish, [touché] by the diversion of the Rupert River “,” text “:” We went to the LaGrande complex and visited the Robert-Bourassa plant. We visited Chisasibi, the community most affected by the LaGrande complex in the 1970s and we visited Waskaganish, [touché] by the diversion of the Rupert river “}}” lang = “fr”>We went to the La Grande complex and visited the Centrale Robert-Bourassa. We visited Chisasibi, the community most affected by the La Grande complex in the 1970s and we visited Waskaganish, [touché] by the diversion of the Rupert River, relate-t-il.
Visitors also went to Oujé-Bougoumou.
In all, New Yorkers will have spent three days with the Cree representatives.
A new approach well received
Indigenous leaders seem satisfied with this New York City mission and see it as a new way to include First Nations in energy sales negotiations.
It is a new approach that we welcome
, says Bill Namagoose.
In the past, Hydro-Québec spoke for us in New York and in the United States.
The situation improved in the 80s and 90s with the Paix des Braves, but it is new that the recipient of the energy is involved in the analysis of its impact.
, he specifies.
The end user of any energy should always assume and be aware of the environmental, cultural and social impacts of their use on peoples, such as the Cree and Innu
, juge M. Namagoose.
The chef of Ekuanitshit also sees it as an innovative approach. It never happened to my knowledge
, says Jean-Charles Piétacho.
Hydro-Québec confirms that it is aware of New York City’s desire to send delegates to visit certain Aboriginal communities.
We are very happy with this approach. We welcome it in an extremely positive way
, says Lynn St-Laurent, spokesperson for Hydro-Québec.
No representative of the Crown corporation was present during these meetings. Ms. St-Laurent says she understands that New York’s goal is to be able to meet directly and without intermediaries with the indigenous communities affected by hydroelectric projects.
With information from Diana Gonzalez
–
