Final Agreement a Step Toward Reconciliation
VANCOUVER – The Province and BC Hydro have initialled a final agreement with the Tsay Keh Dene Band that, once ratified, will address the longstanding grievances from the creation and operation of the W.A.C. Bennett Dam and Williston Reservoir in the Peace River Valley region, Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Minister Michael de Jong announced today.
"Initialling this agreement is another important milestone along the path to establishing a New Relationship with Tsay Keh Dene," said de Jong. "The Chief and Council have demonstrated incredible perseverance to reach this pivotal stage in negotiations and I congratulate them for taking this step as we move forward towards achieving reconciliation of decades of past injustices."
Once ratified, the proposed Final Agreement will provide full settlement for litigation against the Province and BC Hydro related to damages created from W.A.C. Bennett Dam and Williston Reservoir more than four decades ago. The creation of the reservoir led to severe flooding in the Peace River Valley area and forced the Tsay Keh Dene to move to another location within their traditional territory.
"BC Hydro acknowledges that mistakes were made in the past and we hope that initializing this agreement marks a new beginning. By working together with Tsay Keh Dene, we can start to build a better future for the next generations with greater economic and social development opportunities for the First Nation," said BC Hydro president and CEO Bob Elton.
The agreement will provide a one-time payment of $26.5 million and settlements payments of $2 million annually, recognizing the permanent impacts of the reservoir on the Tsay Keh Dene's community.
"We have borne a substantial burden in the name of progress," said Tsay Keh Dene Chief Ella Pierre. "Finalization of negotiations on this agreement provides our community with a rare, indeed historic, opportunity to take the initiative on a way forward for our people – both current and future generations."
The Province, BC Hydro and Tsay Keh Dene have been negotiating a final agreement since December 2006, when an Agreement in Principle was signed. A ratification vote is tentatively scheduled by Tsay Keh Dene in late June, 2009. Subject to a positive vote outcome, the Final Agreement will be signed by all parties in July.
The Final Agreement with Tsay Keh Dene follows the completion of a Final Agreement between the Province, BC Hydro and Kwadacha First Nation, which was signed on Nov. 27, 2008.
Source: BC Hydro News
Contact:
Laura Davis
Communications Manager
Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation
250 387 1204 (office)
250 888 8793 (cell)
Susan Danard
Manager, Media Relations
BC Hydro
604 623 4220 (office)
604 418 4782 (cell)