Hon. Sarah Guillemard Minister of Conservation and Climate Room 344 Legislative Building 450 Broadway Avenue , R3C 0V8 Email: [email protected] RE: Manitoba Hydro’s application for a final license for the Augmented Flow Program for the Churchill River Diversion/Missi Falls Dam At the end of February, you will be reviewing Manitoba Hydro’s application for a final license for the Augmented Flow Program for the Churchill River Diversion/Missi Falls Dam. While this Program may benefit Manitoba Hydro, there is another side to this story that those who believe in fair treatment for all Canadians, and respect for the environment need to know about. I was fortunate enough to have lived in South Indian Lake in the early 70’s. In those days the community was completely supported by the natural resources of the area (fishing, hunting and trapping). There was no unemployment, no welfare and virtually no law- enforcement. Further, the culture was in many ways, what I have come to understand as ‘pre-contact’: A non-pyramidal society where people respected one another and the surrounding enviroment. It was a very special place. With no consent from the people of South Indian Lake, Manitoba Hydro flooded the lake, completely destroying the fishery and the traplines. This community of South Indian lake is now depressed and impoverished. This is heart-breaking. These are proud people and they are reluctant to make a public issue about their sad state of affairs. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is a unanimous commitment by member countries including Canada, to protect indigenous rights. We feel that Sections 10, 25, 26, 29 & 32 of this Declaration have been violated. The people of South Indian Lake are specifically asking that you grant the terms of the original licence without the Augmented Flow Program.

Also that you require Manitoba Hydro to: • Accommodate the peoples concerns as required by Sec. 35 of the Constuon. • Support the fishery and fisherman, unl it is back to sustainable levels, perhaps consider investment in Economic Development for the industry that was destroyed. • Fully compensate and migate damages of the CRD, as previously agreed upon by Hydro. • In general, ensure that the lake, environment, community, people, including future generaons are not sacrificed for cheap, subsidized power for USA customers. • In addion, environmental monitoring needs to be independent of Hydro influence,

A decision by the Minister of Conservation and Climate in favor of these people would be a first step towars making things right. We are aware pressure from the other side to grant this application but we implore you to consider human rights over profits. I’m sure that you as I, will want to look back on our lives some day and take pride in having done the right thing. Sincerely, Jim Senka ec Chief Shirley Ducharme,O-Pipon-Na-Piwin/South Indian Lake [email protected] , Leader, Manitoba New Democratic Party, [email protected] James Beddome, Leader, Manitoba Green Party, [email protected] ,Leader, , [email protected] Hon. , Premier of Manitoba, [email protected] Hon. Eileen Clarke-Agassiz, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Relations, [email protected] Chief Shirley Ducharme,O-Pipon-Na-Piwin/South Indian Lake [email protected]