SCO takes province, Hydro to court over ‘dying’ Lake Winnipeg

Manitoba Hydro and the provincial authorities are being taken to tribunal implicit the aboriginal of Lake Winnipeg.

The Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO), which represents much than 30 Manitoba First Nations, filed a connection of assertion astatine the Court of King’s Bench connected Thursday, and is issuing a situation nether the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to person the water declared a surviving entity.

Grand Chief Jerry Daniels said the lake, known traditionally arsenic Weeniibiikiisagaygun, is “on beingness support” owed to what SCO is calling decades of mediocre decision-making and stewardship by Hydro.

“Weeniibiikiisagaygun has unselfishly kept people, animals, and food live for thousands of years. Now she is dying arsenic Manitoba Hydro profits,” Daniels said.

“It is clip for america each to basal up for Lake Winnipeg and say, ‘no more’. We indispensable alteration our ways to prevention her life.”

According to SCO’s claim, the state and the Crown corp person artificially controlled h2o levels and outflow for years, which has impacted wetlands, wildlife and First Nations pact rights.

“A study by the Clean Environment Commission much than a decennary agone found, among galore shortfalls, that Manitoba Hydro did not decently see biology extortion and climate change successful its readying and operations,” Daniels said.

“The improper absorption by Manitoba Hydro and the state is devasting to Lake Winnipeg and each the beingness she supports. Weeniibiikiisagaygun is sick, the wetlands are sick, the food are sick. It’s becoming progressively hard to harvest nutrient and accepted medicine. It’s clip to marque things right.”

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Daniels said SCO is calling for an biology appraisal and demanding First Nations participation.

SCO’s ineligible situation besides includes 3 elders and h2o protectors, Mary Maytwayashing, Robert Maytwayashing and Emery Stagg, on with cognition keeper Taylor Galvin, arsenic plaintiffs.

“Weeniibiikiisagaygun has a spirit, is ineffable and is living. First Nations Knowledge Keepers, onshore users and rights holders archer america that Lake Winnipeg is suffering, and she is sick,” Mary Maytwayashing said.

“Western scientists agree. It is our work to talk connected behalf of Lake Winnipeg arsenic she is incapable to talk for herself. Her well-being is important to the wellness of existent and aboriginal generations.”