Champagne and Aishihik First Nations want responsible and clean energy:

RESTORE ÄSHÈYI (AISHIHIK) AISHIHIK HYDRO FACILITY

Äshèyi Män (Aishihik Lake) is located in the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations (CAFN) Traditional Territory in the . The Aishihik hydroelectric facility is located at the south end of the lake, about 110 kilometres northwest of , and has provided electricity to Yukoners since 1975. It currently provides 37% of the Yukon’s energy year-round with a larger reliance in winter.

Historic photo of old Äshèyi village, prior to construction of the hydro facility. » CAFN prefers options that would restore the 1960s 1975-2002 2011 lake closer to natural levels, in accordance CAFN PEOPLE ARE with CAFN perspective to ‘let the lake rest’ FIRST LICENSE PERIOD » Yukon Energy Corporation (YEC) and reduce many negative impacts. REMOVED installs a third turbine at the power » YEC prefers options that provide greater » CAFN Citizens’ rights and plant, increasing its capacity from a opportunities for generating electricity and » Indian Affairs removes people culture are impacted when high 30 megawatt (MW) plant to 37 MW. greater operating flexibility. from Äshèyi (Aishihik) village water erosion causes loss of to . CAFN homes, graves and » Winter flooding and icing throughout heritage resources. Low waters the Aishihik River valley and around cause die-off of muskrat and Canyon Creek subdivision increase. whitefish and other impacts. FALL-WINTER 2018 » YEC advises CAFN it will proceed on its own with an application to YESAB to operate the 1972-1975 2016-2018 dam as it has in the past, but with less restrictions than the current licence. 1995-2002 JOINT PROTOCOL AGREEMENT THE DAM IS BUILT » YEC’s chosen operating option does not take into account the key issues and impacts of the FIRST RELICENSING » YEC and CAFN enter into a Protocol dam brought forth by CAFN. » The Northern Canada Power PROCESS Agreement to work together on the Commission (NCPC) constructs relicensing of the Aishihik generating » CAFN asks YEC to respect the Protocol the Aishihik hydroelectric facility » 2002 Department of Fisheries and station and aim for consensus on the Agreement and return to work collaboratively (dam) to meet energy demands of Oceans requires YEC to raise the proposed future operation of the dam. on the renewal. the Faro Mine; CAFN opposed allowable low water level and » CAFN informs Citizens and the public of their and was supported by the Yukon ensure fish monitoring. » The Protocol Agreement is forged concerns with YEC’s approach to the license Indian Brotherhood – Council of because of past challenges between renewal. Yukon Indians. » The Yukon Water Board issues YEC and CAFN and in recognition of license, with conditions and the long-term impacts on CAFN dän » YEC hosts open houses on their proposal for » The Aishihik dam was built mitigations. (people) from the hydro facility. the new license in Kwanlin (Whitehorse) and without any consideration of the Dakwäkäda (Haines Junction). Many CAFN impact on CAFN people or the » YEC and CAFN identify and discuss a citizens and community members attend and long-term impact on the 2002-2019 range of potential operating options voice their concerns. environment. and their associated costs, benefits and risks. SECOND LICENSE PERIOD 2019 » Two advisory committees established YEC’s current water license expires on to recommend a preferred operating December 31 2019. option do not reach a consensus on Ice and sediment layers 7-feet deep on the Aishihik River what lake level regime they should IN FEBRUARY 2019 YEC APPLIES downstream of the hydro facility create impassable recommend to CAFN and YEC. conditions for people and animals. FOR A THREE-YEAR EXTENSION. Spring water drawdowns dry out critical shallow water habitats and traditional key harvest areas for CAFN people. Fish and muskrat death and displacement occurs, in addition CURRENT to erosion and damage to heritage sites. SITUATION

»»The Protocol Agreement has not been in effect since late 2018 when YEC moved forward with its own project proposal.

»»CAFN’s Dän Nätthe Äda (Chief) met with the Premier of Yukon Government in early 2019 and agreed to negotiate on Aishihik.

»»CAFN remains committed to finding a solution together with Citizens, YEC and Yukon Government.

»»YEC applied for a three-year license extension to give more time for THE PROTOCOL AGREEMENT negotiations with CAFN on an acceptable long-term license for the »»The 2016 Aishihik Hydroelectric Power Generation License Renewal Aishihik hydro facility. Co-management Protocol Agreement between CAFN and YEC set out a path for working together to decide how to operate the hydro facility in the future, to »»CAFN is working with the Yukon resolve issues related to the Aishihik reservoir/watershed and to jointly develop Government on a reconciliation applications to the Yukon and Socio-economic Assessment Board (YESAB) agreement. and the Yukon Water Board.

»»CAFN created a Champagne Aishihik Community Advisory Committee (CACAC) of Citizens to provide recommendations and keep Citizens informed of the process. When CAFN signed the Protocol Agreement with Yukon Energy »»YEC and CAFN, along with stakeholder groups, identified different operating Corporation in 2016, it was in good options for the Aishihik generating station for evaluation. Studies and faith. For us, this meant we would community consultation were set up to inform the comparison of options. find energy solutions and develop a Extensive icing and flooding on These options were based on different water storage options in the lake CAFN land into mature forest long-term plan for clean energy for (maximum and minimum water elevations) and downstream flows. causing erosion and stress to the Yukon together. the land. WHAT CAN Protecting traditions: Äshèyi dän (people) preparing and drying fish CAFN’S GOALS WHAT YOU DO? in a smokehouse. ƮƮPlease support CAFN in our goal to reduce the DOES pressure on Aishihik Lake and River basin to short-term restore healthy lakes, rivers and wetlands, and LICENSE CAFN respect for the people who call this their home. It is time to address the legacy of Aishihik dam ƮƮTo get back to the table and a and its impacts on our land and people. collaborative process for future WANT? operating options. ƮƮTo ensure the rights of ƮƮTo improve monitoring of important Champagne and Aishihik First values right away. Nations people are upheld as ƮƮTo adapt operations to reduce an outcome of the relicensing downstream effects (e.g. icing and process. flooding) along the Aishihik River and ƮƮLike all Yukoners, CAFN Canyon Creek. wants responsible and clean ƮƮTo establish a better process with energy. We want to be part of a meaningful role for CAFN in the the solution when it comes management and operations of the to Aishihik and other energy YEC Aishihik system. options for the Yukon. You can: ƮƮWe now have an opportunity ƮƮsupport CAFN in our ƮƮparticipate during the longer-term to reconcile past wrongs negotiations with Water Board Hearing, LICENSE by working together and Yukon Government and developing an option that and YEC, ƮƮencourage Yukon ƮƮChampagne and Aishihik’s main goal will benefit Yukoners and ƮƮspeak up at public Government leaders for the longer-term license renewal reduce the impacts on the meetings about to support CAFN is the long-term health of the land, environment and our people. the Aishihik license on our path to work water and people, and based on the renewal, together to reconcile recommendations of our Community ƮƮWe believe recognition of our past wrongs. Advisory Committee, our Traditional rights and the value of our ƮƮprovide comments Knowledge Study and extensive relationship to the land and during the YESAB community consultation. water are essential. review, PHOTO CREDITS: All photos are from the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations collection.

Lookout over Aishihik Lake and MacIntosh Valley.

A rainbow over FOR MORE Äshèyi Män. INFORMATION: visit: CAFN.ca/aishihik-relicensing-2019 #restoreasheyi

Meagan Grabowski  Roger Brown [email protected]  [email protected]  (867) 456-6877 (867) 456-6883