30691 Simpson Road Abbotsford, BC, V2T 6C7 Tel: 604.557.5851 Fax: 604.557.2024 TF: 1.800.940.1150 www.mnbc.ca

Dear Joint Review Panel,

Subject: Followup Regarding Metis Land Use and Impacts

Métis Nation (MNBC) would like to thank the Joint Review Panel for requesting further information and for the opportunity to provide it. MNBC would like to comment on the significance of drinking water collection sites in and around the proposed project as well as further comment on the impact to Metis historic sites.

There are four drinking water collection (DW) sites located within, or very nearby the proposed Site C Reservoir area.

A) Located near Farrell Creek – see map 4 of 12 affected area map in main report. Object ID: 18 Identified by: PIN 09 Interview context: PIN 09 indicated the location of a fresh water well, and notes that it no longer exists.

IN: No. Kay. Um, have you ever made trips specifically to collect drinking water to bring back to your house, cabin, camp or boat, on this map? And if so, can you show some spots? 09: Right there. IN: DW-126. Are there any other spots? 09: ((?)) fresh water well. IN: Oh really? 09: ((?)) yeah. IN: Is it still there? 09: No. IN: What happened to it? Don’t know? Just disappeared. 09: Yeah, they, they got rid of it.

B) Located along Halfway River – see map 6 of 12 affected area map in main report.

Object ID: 7685

The Métis Nation British Columbia, first incorporated under the Society’s Act on October 23, 1996, is recognized by the provincial and federal government and the Métis National Council as the official governing organization in the province of British Columbia, representing over 9,000 provincially registered Métis citizens and a population of nearly 70,000 self-identified Métis people.

30691 Simpson Road Abbotsford, BC, V2T 6C7 Tel: 604.557.5851 Fax: 604.557.2024 TF: 1.800.940.1150 www.mnbc.ca

Identified by: PIN 30

Interview context:

PIN 30 indicated several DW sites during the interview, all in association with camping or other overnight sites, and in one case, an overnight camp at a ranch.

C) Located west of the proposed Site C Dam location (at the river bend, west of the construction project area) – see map 11 of 12 affected area map in main report.

Object ID: 4183

Indentified by: PIN 110

Interview context:

PIN 110 indicated DW sites in association with harvest camp sites.

“You know, we’d go for a week camping and ah, we’d always have water there. Where there is water. Some of it’s probably not drinkable anymore.”

D) Located within the proposed Site C Dam location construction project area, opposite Moberly River – see map 11 of 12 affected area map in main report.

Object ID: 6634

Indentified by: PIN 01

Interview context:

PIN 01 indicated several DW sites during the interview, all in association with camping, or other overnight sites, and boating activities.

It does not appear that any of the drinking water collection sites documented in this study have spiritual significance for the Metis citizens who use them. They were utilized in a practical sense to provide drinking water during for use at home or while out on the land during harvesting activities.

When asked about impacts to Metis historic sites by previous projects during my presentation I mentioned Boat Encampment. I could not remember the reservoir at the time and I believe I attributed it to the Williston which was incorrect. The boat encampment site was flooded by the , another BC Hydro project but not one in the vicinity of Site C.

The Métis Nation British Columbia, first incorporated under the Society’s Act on October 23, 1996, is recognized by the provincial and federal government and the Métis National Council as the official governing organization in the province of British Columbia, representing over 9,000 provincially registered Métis citizens and a population of nearly 70,000 self-identified Métis people.

30691 Simpson Road Abbotsford, BC, V2T 6C7 Tel: 604.557.5851 Fax: 604.557.2024 TF: 1.800.940.1150 www.mnbc.ca

The Boat Encampment National Historic Site of was originally located between the mouths of the Wood and rivers, at the Big Bend of the . In 1973, preceding the hydroelectric development of the Columbia River, which flooded the area of the original site, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada monument marking the site was relocated to a site near the Mica Dam. Relocated again in 2000, the monument now rests on a point in the Sprague Bay Recreation Site. The monument looks out towards the original boat encampment site, currently under the waters of the Mica Dam Reservoir. Official recognition refers to the site as it existed prior to 1973.

The Boat Encampment was designated a national historic site of Canada in 1943 because it was first visited by David Thompson in 1811, and was, for nearly 50 years, an important transfer point on the express route from the Pacific Coast to Montreal and ; it was an important transshipment point where fur traders and travellers boarded boats for . The Boat Encampment served as an important transshipment point for the fur brigades moving to and from the Columbia River across the continent. David Thompson, a fur trader under the employ of the Northwest Company, first visited the site in 1811, wintering there after traversing the . The location remained a meeting place for the following half century for the fur brigades of both the Northwest Company and later the Hudson’s Bay Company as they awaited pack trains coming over the mountain from Jasper House, an important supply depot for fur traders. Previously inaccessible by land, the construction of the Big Bend loop of the Trans-Canada Highway opened up the area to travellers and tourists in the spring of 1940. Three decades later, the site was flooded during the hydroelectric development of the Columbia River.

The loss of Rocky Mt. Ft. as a result of the proposed project activities is troubling for many Metis in the region. The Fort Journals highlight many examples of Metis contributions including canoe building: April, 1800 “Mon 6th: Bouch, mended his old canoe…Cardinal with the other men made one canoe today…etc.” [pg 66]1 Other examples found in the journal of Daniel Williams Harmon 1800-1819 again highlight canoe building as well as the burial of people at the Fort: “March 22 [1809] Sent People to look for Birch Rind or Bark to make … “April 6 The People whom we sent for Bark are returned with one hundred & eighty Fathoms which will make nine Canoes…. [105]

February 15 [1810] My Woman brought to bed of two Boys who appear to been prematurely born… Feb. 22 In the morning expired one of those Children that were born on the 15 Feb 25 Last night the Brother of the Deceased Child died also! And to Day they were both buried in the same Coffin.

Métis are stewards of the land and will work cooperatively with BC Hydro and the Joint Review Panel to ensure that local Métis Citizen’s Aboriginal rights are respected and appropriately addressed. Métis

1 Leonard and Lemieux, The Lure of the Peace River Country: 1872-1919. 2003

The Métis Nation British Columbia, first incorporated under the Society’s Act on October 23, 1996, is recognized by the provincial and federal government and the Métis National Council as the official governing organization in the province of British Columbia, representing over 9,000 provincially registered Métis citizens and a population of nearly 70,000 self-identified Métis people.

30691 Simpson Road Abbotsford, BC, V2T 6C7 Tel: 604.557.5851 Fax: 604.557.2024 TF: 1.800.940.1150 www.mnbc.ca

Nation BC will work diligently and in good faith to protect all the natural resources that Métis people have and continue to rely on as a way of life.

Christopher Gall, signature removed

A/Director of Natural Resources Métis Nation British Columbia contact info removed

The Métis Nation British Columbia, first incorporated under the Society’s Act on October 23, 1996, is recognized by the provincial and federal government and the Métis National Council as the official governing organization in the province of British Columbia, representing over 9,000 provincially registered Métis citizens and a population of nearly 70,000 self-identified Métis people.