Date: Mon, 4 Aug 1997 11:08:47 -0600
From: nfnena@igc.org (Native Forest Network)
Subject: CREES WILL FIGHT HYDRO-QUEBEC

>From: briant@sun.goddard.edu (Brian Tokar)
>From: Jean-Marc Pelletier <pelletie@francomedia.qc.ca>
>
>THE CREES OF WHAPMAGOOSTUI (GREAT WHALE
>               RIVER) VOW TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR THEIR RIVER
>               WHICH IS STILL THE TARGET OF HYDRO-QUEBEC IN ITS
>               PLANS TO UPGRADE ITS EXISTING INSTALLATIONS AT
>               LA GRANDE
>
>               WHAPMAGOOSTUI, Quebec, July 31 /CNW/ via Individual Inc. --
>The Crees of Whapmagoostui (Great
>               Whale River) held a referendum on Hydro-Quebec,s proposal to
>divert the Great Whale River into the
>               existing reservoirs of La Grand Complex. Ninety-two percent
>(92%) of the electorate who cast their votes on
>               Wednesday, July 29, 1997 are in favour of a continued
>opposition to any development project having to do
>               with an alteration of the Great Whale River on which their
>community is situated.
>
>               ``This is a very strong mandate for the Cree leadership,''
>said Chief Matthew Mukash, who has been
>               reelected for a third term as leader of the Cree community
>of Great Whale River, in an election that took
>               place at the end of June l997. ``My people are determined to
>stand up against any project having to do with
>               the destruction of land, water and other resources that have
>sustained us as a people since time immemorial,
>               and I am very happy about that. No amount of money in the
>world can replace the type of destruction that
>               took place at La Grande, and this is not going to happen
>here'', he added.
>
>               The community was concerned with media reports in June which
>seemed to say that the Crees are ready to
>               negotiate with Hydro-Quebec and the Government of Quebec on
>future development projects. According to
>               Chief Mukash, there have been hordes of calls from
>supporters from practically all over the world asking
>               what is going on. ``We are greatly concerned about what the
>media reports have done.''
>
>               ``Everybody seems to be thinking that we are ready to sit
>down with Hydro-Quebec and the government of
>               Quebec and let them build dams as they please'', said David
>Masty, the community's Executive Director and
>               spokesman. ``That is a notion that shouldn't be in the mind
>of anybody, and we are going to do something
>               about it. This project will not be discussed by the Crees
>with Hydro-Quebec.''
>
>               ``Whapmagoostui had decided to launch a campaign against the
>proposed diversion of the Great Whale River,
>               although the plan by Hydro-Quebec is at a very preliminary
>stage,'' said the town's Deputy Chief, George
>               Masty. ``It's better to attack the idea before it
>materializes any further and much money is spent on it. We are
>               planning to go all out by any means we can as a community to
>prevent the destruction of the land, water and
>               our way of life. Our future generations and other people
>will need this land for healing, because there aren't
>               many wilderness areas in the world for this purpose.''
>
>               Local older Andrew Natachequan, whose trapline would be
>affected by HQ's diversion plan, is concerned
>               with the fact that the diversion of the river to the La
>Grande will necessarily flood all of Lake Bienville, the
>               head waters of the Great Whale River. ``This is
>unacceptable,'' he said. ``Lake Bienville is a sacred area. It is
>               the heart of the land. Its huge water area contains all
>kinds of fish that has sustained the Eeyouch. It is the
>               central calving ground for the inland caribou. Bird and
>animals of all kinds have used and continue to use this
>               area as a sanctuary. It just cannot be touched by man. Any
>alteration to it will bring bad luck to the
>               perpetrator because it is a sacred area.''
>
>               /For further information: Chief Matthew Mukash: Tel.
>819-929-3484 (office) or 929-3718 (after 5:00 p.m.),
>               David Masty, WFN Executive Director: Tel. 819-929-3494 or
>3367 (after 5:00 p.m.), or George Masty,
>               WFN Deputy Chief: Tel. 819-929-3484/
>
>               [Canada Newswire]
>--
>Jean-Marc Pelletier
>pelletie@francomedia.qc.ca
>