Tell the BC Government to Stop Ignoring the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
The planned Site C dam in northeastern British Columbia is one of the largest resource development projects currently planned anywhere in Canada.
There is no dispute that construction of the dam, and the flooding of more than 80 kilometres of the Peace River Valley, will have a severe impact on the First Nations and Métis families and communities who depend on this unique ecosystem.
In fact, a joint federal-provincial environmental assessment concluded that the dam would "severely undermine" the cultural practices of First Nations and Métis peoples, would make fishing unsafe for at least a generation, and would submerge burial grounds and other crucial cultural sites.
"We said no to the destruction of that valley. It's the last chunk of valley that we have and it's vitally important," says Chief Roland Willson, West Moberly First Nation.
The BC government announced in May that construction of the Site C dam would begin this summer, even though legal challenges by First Nations and non-Indigenous land owners are still before the courts. The BC First Nations Summit called that decision "a major step backwards" in relations between the province and First Nations.
Please join a growing movement of people across Canada who say that the human rights of Indigenous peoples must not be ignored
Dear Premier Clark,
I urge your government to withdraw all permits related to the construction of the Site C dam and publicly commit to ensuring that the rights of Indigenous peoples will be respected and upheld.
The environmental assessment of the Site C dam concluded that flooding the Peace Valley would “severely undermine” rights of Indigenous peoples - rights that are protected by Treaty, the Canadian Constitution and international human rights law.
I am shocked that your government would issue construction permits for the dam while these important concerns remain unresolved.
There are directly affected First Nations that remain opposed to the project. And important legal challenges are still before the courts.
[Your comments here]
Please don't rush ahead with a project that will violate human rights.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
