@BCHydro
NORTHERN BC – The Province of British Columbia, BC Hydro, Canada and West Moberly First Nations have negotiated a settlement related to the Site C project.
This is a partial settlement of West Moberly First Nations’ civil claim against BC Hydro, Canada and the Province. BC Hydro and the Province will provide West Moberly First Nations with, among other benefits, financial benefits, contracting opportunities, the transfer of provincial Crown lands, and jointly developed recommendations for land management measures over provincial Crown lands.
The settlement between the Province, BC Hydro and West Moberly First Nations includes the following components:
- an impact and benefits agreement between BC Hydro and West Moberly;
- two agreements between BC Hydro and West Moberly providing West Moberly contracting opportunities;
- a tripartite land agreement, between the Province, BC Hydro and West Moberly; and
- an agreement providing for the release of West Moberly’s claims against the Site C project.
“Building respectful and meaningful relationships with West Moberly First Nations and all Treaty 8 First Nations impacted by Site C is a priority for BC Hydro. These agreements are an important step in advancing this relationship between West Moberly First Nations and BC Hydro as we move away from litigation. I appreciate that it has been a difficult decision for West Moberly to resolve its claims against Site C. These agreements provide us a foundation to move forward together in a manner that fosters a mutually beneficial relationship. I would like to thank West Moberly First Nations, the Province and Canada for their efforts in working with BC Hydro to complete these important agreements,” said Chris O’Riley, president and CEO of BC Hydro.
The settlement between Canada and West Moberly First Nations includes an agreement settling the litigation claims against Canada related to the Site C project.
“The Site C project has had major impacts on our community, and the flooding and operation of this dam will have effects that will be felt for generations to come. The decision to settle this part of the court case was taken with a heavy heart and with serious considerations of the best interests of our community. Our focus now turns towards efforts to heal what remains of our land, to heal our people, and to protect our way of life in the face of all the resource development in Treaty No. 8 territory,” said Chief Roland Willson of West Moberly First Nations.
In the remainder of the civil claim, West Moberly First Nations has asserted that the existing hydroelectric dams on the Peace River and the cumulative impacts of resource development in their territory are an infringement of their Treaty rights. The parties have agreed to pause the remainder of the civil claim and place it in abeyance, and the Province and West Moberly First Nations have agreed to enter into confidential government-to-government discussions to resolve the remaining matters in the litigation.
West Moberly is located at the west end of Moberly Lake, approximately 90 kilometres southwest of Fort St. John, within the territory covered by Treaty No. 8, and has 366 members.
See full press release here.