Category Archives: First Nations

Leaked Samsung documents prompt declaration to dismantle HDI: launch investigation

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1297489333163_ORIGINALTwo Row Times, Nahnda Garlow
SIX NATIONS – A declaration was presented during Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council this weekend calling for the immediate dismantlement of HDI and dismissal of lawyer Aaron Detlor, HDI Director Hazel Hill and HDI board member Brian Doolittle.

This declaration, read aloud in council by Cayuga Wolf Chief Sam General, calls for the dismantlement of the HDI for not negotiating in good faith on behalf of the Confederacy, the immediate dismissal and removal of Detlor, Hill and Doolittle for misrepresenting the Confederacy, immediate halting of all HDI business and the launch of a full investigation into HDI by the Confederacy.

These demands come after copies of two Engagement Agreements HDI signed with with Samsung in 2013 and 2014, locally known as ‘the Samsung deals’, were leaked to clan families.

Those leaked documents reveal that HDI agreed to, on behalf of the HCCC and all Haudenosaunee member nations, waive Haudenosaunee sovereign immunity and any other claim of traditional or treaty rights surrounding Haudenosaunee right to lands that the projects are utilizing in exchange for financial compensation. Read article

Kettle & Stony Point FN looking to hear from residents effected by wind turbines

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kettle stony pointWind Turbine Info. Gathering Session

CKSPFN needs to hear from our members if you and/or any of your family members are experience negative effects from the wind turbines. The First nation will take this into consideration to determine if they will pursue legal action on behalf of their members. Please join us on this date, to share your story and concerns with us or arrange for a private home visit if that is more acceptable to you. For further information, please contact Suzanne Bressette at the Administration Office (519-786-2125).
When
 Sat Feb 28, 2015 3:30pm – 5pm
Where
 KSP Health Centre (Vernon Room) (map)

Chief promises protests, blockades on Mattawa wind project

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1297667730349_ORIGINALBy PJ Wilson, The Nugget
MATTAWA – The Antoine First Nation “will use every means available” to stop a proposed wind turbine development near this community, including protests and blockades. That was the message Chief Davie Joanisse delivered Monday night at an open house concerning the proposed industrial wind turbine farm on Crown land west of Mattawa and north of the Mattawa River.

“We firmly oppose this project, the company involved and the Algonquin group,” Joanisse said, pointing at the Pikwaknagan First Nation, which has allied with Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. on the project. “We will use every means available to stop this project. That includes protests and blockades.”

The proposal – still in its early stages – would see up to 60 wind turbines producing 150 megawatts of electrical power near Talon Lake. An overflow crowd crammed into the Mattawa Golden Age Club to get information on the project – one of at least three in the region – and to let representatives of Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. know where they stand on the idea. Read article

First Nation returns to court seeking injunction against wind farm

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Thunder Bay Protesttbnewswatch.com 
THUNDER BAY — The Fort William First Nation, Horizon Wind Inc., and the province were back in a Thunder Bay Courtroom Monday. Fort William First Nation is seeking an injunction against the Ministry of Environment and other provincial ministries. The First Nation alleges Crown ministries have failed in their duty to consult over the proposed Big Thunder Wind Park.

The First Nation has also filed Judicial Reviews against the province. On Monday they were seeking an injunction to prevent the Ministry of Environment from approving Horizon Wind’s project until those Judicial Reviews are heard. Read article

Horizon Wind, First Nation remain at odds over wind farm project

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Thunder BayNorCBC News
An Ontario court has declined to intervene in the Big Thunder wind farm project, after Horizon Wind applied for a judicial review, saying court applications by Fort William First Nation against various government ministries had created confusion.

Horizon wanted the province to approve the project, but company director of Community and Public Affairs Kathleen MacKenzie said a judge on Friday decided not to issue any instructions to the Ministry of the Environment.

“The court didn’t think it was appropriate for it to … step in at this point,” she said. “The court elected not to order any action from the MOE — not further consultations, not an end to consultations. It just said it was not going to substitute its judgement for that of the ministry.” Read article

Ancient trail threatens turbines

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George Henry Chief Maun-gua-dausOmbudsman Complaint MOE REA April 28 2014
EBR Native-Historic Trail Submission Jan 27 2013

Wind project plans continue despite First Nation territory dispute

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South Kent Wind Samsung Pattern Chatham Kent Sinclair Ln 6CBC News
Hearings begin this week on the environmental impact of a wind farm proposed for the shores of Lake Superior — but what won’t be discussed in those hearings is the dispute between two First Nations as to whose territory the wind is blowing through.

The turbines are to be built near Lake Superior, in between Wawa and Sault Ste. Marie. It’s also between the Michipicoten and Batchewana First Nations, but the energy company has only partnered with Batchewana. Joe Buckell, the chief of Michipicoten, said he thought the boundary between the two First Nations was clear until now. He said territories across the north are being exaggerated these days.

“It all started out when revenue sharing started. People started claiming these vast territories, because they were there at one time,” Bucknell said. Batchewana chief Dean Sayers said the proposed wind farm is in his First Nation’s territory. Read article

Horizon Walks Out of Fort William First Nations Meeting

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NetNewsledger
THUNDER BAY – Horizon walked out of meetings with Fort William First Nation, the Province of Ontario, City of Thunder Bay, and Municipality of Neebing. The First Nations / Crown Consultation meetings today at the Victoria Inn in Thunder Bay saw the wind energy company walk out of the meeting twenty minutes into the session.  Fort William First Nation has long stated that there have been no formal consultation process engaged with their community.

Chief Georjann Morriseau speaking to media explained that there is a duty to consult and that includes all of the treaty partners in the Robinson Superior Treaty.  The walk-out by Horizon was not commented on by the company. “We are not giving any interviews,” stated the company’s spokesperson. Read article

Ontario Ojibwe Rally to Battle Wind-Farm Plans on Sacred Nor’Wester Mountains

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norwester_mtns_ontario_canIndian Country
Horizon Wind Inc.’s plans for a wind farm atop the Nor’Wester Mountain Range in Ojibwe traditional territory are under fire from opponents who fear the development will violate sacred places and endanger the environment. The Nor’Wester Mountain Escarpment Protection Committee will hold a rally on Wednesday May 29 to voice concerns over the Big Thunder Wind Park, followed by a barbecue to raise money for legal fees to combat the project.

“Many people feel the industrial development will infringe on their way of life and it could affect tax payers in many ways,” the group Save the Nor’Westers says on its website. “But most of all, the natural biodiversity in the sacred lands will be irrevocably damaged by clear cutting and blasting areas of the mountain to install wind turbines.” Read article

Celebrating the sacredness of the eagle in NextTerror’s Bornish Wind Project

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NextEra questioned on consulting with Six Nations after project almost finished

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nest choppedBy Donna Duric, Turtle Island News
Wind energy company NextEra admitted it did not consult with anyone on Six Nations before deciding to remove an eagle’s nest to make way for a turbine in Haldimand County in early January. Brian Hay, aboriginal relations director with NextEra, said he left a few messages with Paul General, manager of the Six Nations EcoCentre, overthe Christmas holidays. When he didn’t hear back, he claimed the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) “ordered” them to remove the nest. Hay made the admission during NextEra’s first community engagement session at the Community Hall last Thursday on its Summerhaven wind project on Nanfan Treaty lands in south Haldimand County.

The removal of the nest outraged Six Nations people and area residents near Rainham, Ont. “You had no right to do what you did,” said Six Nations resident and activist Ruby Montour. “If we would have cut the trees down we would have gone to jail.” Hay tried to defend the decision by saying that he spoke with General on a Thursday and General told him he’d have to talk it over with band council staff. Hay hadn’t heard back from anyone on Six Nations by the weekend and the nest was removed on Sunday, Jan. 6. “We did try to reach out to this community,” Hay claimed. “We basically had an order from the ministry to take the nest down.” Read article

Rosemary Wakegijig First Nations – Wind Energy/FiT Protest 2013

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Wikwemikong Elder Spokesperson Protesting in Toronto

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roseHere is a picture of First Nations Elders spokesperson, Rosemary Wakegijig, supporting MCSEA Inc and those that have had their voices suppressed in opposing Northland Power Inc and their shareholders against the Mclean’s Mountain Wind Limited Partnership and other Industrial Wind projects on or near First Nation Lands. Treaty rights are still unresolved in some areas.

Land loss,devaluation and future human habitation for several kilometres around Indusrial Wind Turbines due to environmental impacts and noise, cyclical noise,Low Frequency Noise, infrasound, rapid air pressure fluctuation, flicker effect and others are serious issues for everyone as well as First Nations where their lands base is a set size for future growth.

There are no noise protocols to address these issues federally or provincially where the only avenue to complaint resolution is to address the chiefs and councils who are the owners or partners in these projects. Continue reading →

Six Nations man posts trespassing notices near wind turbine sites

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Bill MontureJennifer Vo, The Sachem
Six Nations resident Bill Monture said he is resorting to using Ontario’s law in an attempt to stop Industrial Wind Turbines from coming into the Haldimand and Six Nations area. “All we’re doing is standing up for what’s rightfully ours,” said Monture. “The Mother Earth is our mother. She’s our life giver. She’s our sustenance. Yet, what are we doing? We’re destroying her.”

Monture along with Six Nations resident Lester Green had noted in the past during the turbine appeal process that if the appeals didn’t follow through, native residents would put up trespassing signs on the land. Monture said the trespassing notices should hold up in court, as he said the sites of the proposed wind turbine projects in the county fall in the Haldimand Proclamation Nanfan Treaty area. He said that land is their traditional hunting area, and he believes that since trespassing is a law of Ontario, the Ontario Provincial Police should enforce it.

“My argument is that it’s a valid thing,” said Monture, citing incidents when he said trespassing notices have been put up on disputed land against non-natives and the charges stood in court. “Now, we’re putting up the same thing in here within our traditional hunting areas.” Cayuga Detachment Commander Inspector Phil Carter said the OPP would investigate every call that comes to them. Read article

Notice to Trespassers (Grand Renewable Wind LP – Samsung)

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keep-out no trespassingNOTICE TO TRESPASSERS
WITHIN THE HALDIMAND PROCLAMATION
D.I.A. X15173D-October 25,1784
1701 NANFAN TREATY AREA
Trespasser Name: Grand Renewable Wind LP/Grand Renewable Wind GP
Trespasser Address: 55 Standish Court, Mississauga, ON
RE: Trespass Warning
This is to inform you that under the Trespass to Property Act, that you are, not under any circumstances, permitted access to, or be on the premises of:
The Haldimand Proclamation, 1701 Nanfan Treaty Area.
In the event that the above is violated, for any reason, if you set foot on the aforementioned property, the Ontario Provincial Police will be contacted, who will be instructed to charge you under the Trespass to Property Act.
No further warning will be given and you are advised to conduct yourself accordingly.
Sincerely: KARIHWANORON ( William Monture) (Mohawk Turtle)
R.R. 6, Hagersville, 724 Chiefswood Rd., Six Nations of Indians

Northland Power lacking Support From Sheguiandah First Nations

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oebsideRaymond Beaudry, MCSEA
Sheguiandah First Nation is one of the partners of Northland Power’s Mclean’s Mountain windfarm  through a company called MMP (Mnidoo Mnising Power)which was formed by the chiefs at that time through the UCCMM ( United Chiefs and Councils of Mnidoo Mnising).

It would not seem appropriate that a REA (renewable energy approval) can be granted, a transmission line leave to construct can be issued when one of the members of the partnership is not in full suppoort and their concillors or community has not been fully consulted.

Without full support from the First Nations Northland Power has recently also applied for a licence to generate from the OEB (Ontario Energy Board) EB-2013-0015 for the Mcleans Mountain Windfarm.

The public can participate in this hearing. One can read the info under the link applications before the board. Search by applicant, Northland Power or EB-2013-0015. Continue reading →

Capital Power gets injunction, court ignores First Nations rights

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Capital Power substation shut down

Capital Power substation shut down

By Donna Duric, Turtle Island News
An energy company that wants to build wind turbines on unceded Six Nations lands near Port Dover has been granted an interim injunction in response to the shutdown of four of its projects two weeks ago. Justice C. Stephen Glithero granted Capital Power an interim injunction during a hearing at the Simcoe Courthouse yesterday, allowing work to continue on the company’s 8,900-acre Port Dover/Nanticoke Wind Project.

The injunction was sought in response to a Jan. 17 shut down of four Capital Power construction sites, when a caravan of about 35 Six Nations people stopped the projects after the company ignored a cease and desist order issued by the Haudenosaunee Development Institute (HDI). The HDI, HDI interim director Hazel Hill, Cayuga Chief Blake Bomberry, and HDI archaeological monitor Wayne Hill are all named in the injunction.

Only Bomberry received the notice of injunction and was present in court yesterday. Both Hazel Hill and Wayne Hill refused when a process server tried to give them the notices last week, court heard. Neither was present in the courtroom. Read article

Capital Power shut down, message sent to NextEra over eagles

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NextEra's laydown area across from substation

NextEra’s laydown area across from substation

By Chase Jarrett, Turtle Island News
An almost three dozen car caravan shut down four Capital Power sites and delivered a powerful message to a fifth NextEra site outside of Hagersville Thursday. Both companies are constructing wind turbines on Six Nations treaty lands. “We delivered a message today that when they (NextEra) cut down the eagle’s nest, it was a violation to us against Creation,” said Hazel Hill, interim director of the Haudenosaunee Development Institute (HDI). “So we’re here to deliver a really strong message today that if they continue with these types of actions we’ll be shutting them down as well.” Four nearby Capital Power sites were shut down earlier in the day. “Our goal is to have developers show some respect to the Haudenosaunee when they come in our treaty territory. These are our treaty lands,” said Hill. “When our chiefs give a cease and desist order they’re to respect it.” Read article

Against the Wind – Rolling protest shuts down turbine sites

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IMG_1470by Jim Windle, Tekawennake News
Although not directly aligned with the Idle no More movement against the federal Harper Conservatives specifically, the spirit of it is at work beyond Bill C- 45. Ontario’s Liberals are also under fire for their push for “green energy” without proper consultation with the Haudenosaunee confederacy as well as non-Native neighbours of the proposed wind farms.

Last Thrusday, Jan. 17, was a busy day for Six Nations activists and allies as a motorcade of more than 35 vehicles made a tour of duty shutting down five “green energy” construction sites owned by Capital Power and delivering  a strong message to a sixth owned by Nextera. The motorcade protest occured in the Walpole concession roads 3 and 4 near Nanticoke. Read article

Natives protesting at wind turbine sites

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IMG_1504By Monte Sonnenberg, Simcoe Reformer
HALDIMAND – A surprise native protest in southwest Haldimand Thursday disrupted work at two wind turbine projects near the Nanticoke Industrial Park. As many as 30 natives in a convoy – some wearing traditional garb and waving native flags – interrupted work at several turbine and substation construction sites. At least one work crew gathered up its equipment and left for the day after they arrived.

The protests occurred in the area of Walpole concession roads 3 and 4 between Nanticoke and Varency. Const. Mark Foster of the Haldimand OPP said the roving protest touched down at half a dozen sites. The projects affected belong to NextEra Energy Canada and Capital Power Corporation.

Josie Hernandez, spokesperson for NextEra, confirmed that the protest was motivated in part by her company’s removal of an eagle’s nest near Fisherville two weeks ago. Hernandez said the company welcomed the opportunity to share NextEra’s plans for habitat enhancements in the area where its turbines will be situated. “We understand the need for protest,” she said. “That was good. We appreciated that. We will continue to communicate with them as this project proceeds. It is something we understand.”

Some predicted that aboriginals from Six Nations would react badly to the nest’s destruction, which occurred Jan. 5. A young pair built the nest in November in an area slated for three turbines. Aboriginals in southern Ontario consider eagles sacred.

Aboriginals weren’t the only ones upset by the incident. Nancy Nicklan, owner of Floyd’s Bar & Grill in Nanticoke and a witness to two of the protests Thursday, says everyone in south Haldimand is “furious” about it. “That was it,” Nicklan said. “Everyone has been losing their minds since.” Read article

Appeal Against Samsung wind project dismissed

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Bill MontureStephanie Dearing, Tekawennake News
[excerpt] The recent removal of a Bald Eagle nest near Fisherville, to make room for a Summerhaven wind turbine and access road serves to highlight a number of the points the Six Nations men had laid out for the Tribunal. The nest removal had the full blessing of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.

Monture said the men are now considering their next steps, which may include going to court to appeal the Tribunal’s decision on the Samsung wind park. They will definitely be watching to see if the Tribunals recommendations are implemented.

While pleased to have won the recommendations for the Samsung wind farm, “To us it’s not good enough”, said Monture. Read article

HDI concerned with removal of eagle’s nest, no notification

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Bald-Eagle-on-Lakeshore-Rd.-Nov-22-12-1024x768Turtle Island News
The Haudenosaunee Development Institute says it is going to have a meeting with the Ministry of Natural Resources and NextEra Canada to voice concerns about the removal of a bald eagle’s nest at a wind turbine development site near Jarvis last week. “We will be contacting the MNR to discuss what happened,” said HDI Director Hazel Hill. Hill said the sudden removal of the nest last week was a “violation” of the negotiation agreement between the HDI and NextEra. NextEra is planning to build a wind farm on unceded Six Nations lands near Jarvis and has been negotiating with the HDI on the project. NextEra removed the nest because the tree it was built in was in the way of a planned access road to the wind turbine site. The MNR gave NextEra permission to remove it on Dec. 31 but did not inform anyone on Six Nations of their plans. NextEra, with the backing of the MNR, cut down the tree the first weekend of January and the MNR is currently holding the nest until it can be relocated, said Ministry Spokesperson Jolanta Kowalski. “Bald eagles have been known to use more than one nest,” said Kowalski. “By relocating the nest it’s anticipated they will find another suitable location.” Hill said she believed NextEra and the MNR “conspired” behind the backs of the HDI by not informing its environmental monitors present at the site of the decision to remove the nest. “They knew we would have opposed,” said Hill. “The environmental monitors are there for a reason.” Read article

Also:
Company ignoring HDI cease and desist
The Haudenosaunee Development Institute, with the backing of Confederacy Chiefs, will be sending a letter to Capital Power informing them again that they will not allow the company’s Port Dover/Nanticoke Wind Project to go forward. HDI Director Hazel Hill said the company has ignored HDI concerns about the project and a cease and desist order sent to them last September. Hill reported that HDI archaeological monitor Wayne Hill confirmed the company has already built roads leading into the development. For entire story purchase a subscription package. Read article

Samsung negotiations hit roadblock
The HDI is sending a letter to Samsung Renewable Energy regarding the $7 billion Grand Renewable Energy Project informing company executives of the Confederacy’s treaty rights. The HDI says the HCCC was “perplexed” with an offer from Samsung last October and they are still reviewing it, but there was no discussion of proposed amounts from Samsung at Saturday’s Confederacy meeting. The HDI says it is not happy that Samsung has proposed creating its own financial Trust of the monies Six Nations will receive from the wind and solar farm projects it plans to build on South Cayuga lands. The HDI says it will create and administer its own Trust that will manage the financial benefits Six Nations receives from the project. Read article

Nexterror circus comes to Haldimand

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NextEra with their white tents heating and drying the ground for archaeological digs at the Summerhaven project’s site in Haldimand County. Maybe the bald eagle nest is ‘preserved’ and on ‘display’ inside….

Six Nations shocked NextEra takes eagles nest cuts down tree

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turtleby Lynda Powless, Editor Turtle Island News
Six Nations residents are shocked NextEra Energy Canada has removed an eagles nest and cut down the tree that held it over the weekend. NextEra cut down the tree to construct a road access for their Summerhaven wind turbine project. Ministry of Natural Resources gave the company approval to remove the nest Dec., 31 but neither the MNR or NextEra informed Six Nations of the move.

The MNR permit held a proviso that the tree had to be removed by Sunday. The MNR decision wasn’t posted on the internet until after 5 p.m. Friday leaving no one time to object. Haudenosaunee Development Institute (HDI) interim director Hazel Hill said she is “outraged” NextEra would “commit such an act.” She said HDI had been trying to work in “good faith” with NextEra on their project. “Our environmental montiors had raised it as an issue that the nest was there and we had asked for a report on what type of risk the turbines would present.” She said preliminary results indicated the nest was to stay. “Our preliminary reports showed they move the turbine or go one less and leave the nest alone.” Read article

Wind turbines signal coming battle

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Manitoulin Expositor
Well the windmills are going up at McLean’s Mountain. So people who were against this should prepare for a big fight. If we see our hydro rates skyrocket in the near future, people on the Island should file a class action lawsuit against Northland Power and also the UCCMM (United Chiefs and Councils of Mnidoo Mnising) because there are just in there for the money. They do not have to worry about their hydro bills because if they make the mistake make them pay for it. They shove these windmills down our throats without thinking about the consequences they may face. They were blinded by the dollar signs and if people have to go province-wide, they should do so. There are a lot of people who are against these windmills. Some of them had to give up their properties to get away from noise or got sick from these windmills and no compensation.

I believe some people may say it’s too late, but it’s never too late. Get the compensation that you deserve from them because you have the right. A lot of people on the Island are living on fixed income and that’s why we have a drug problem. People are just trying to make ends meet and they will do anything just to make a fast buck, even if it means breaking the law.

Ron Osawabine
Wikwemikong

“I have no respect for Samsung. They have no respect for the wildlife. All they care about is the money.”

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Jennifer Vo, PennEnergy
“No one on this tribunal will be living on this land. No one will know the effects until 40 years from now,” said Six Nations resident Lester Green in his closing statement at the Samsung Grand Renewable Energy Park hearing. The daylong hearing heard the appellants including Six Nations residents Bill Monture and Lester Green and Haldimand Wind Concerns restate their case on the morning of November 2 while the afternoon heard the closing testimonies from Samsung and the Ministry of Environment.

“No one knows what this will bring until there’s a disaster,” said Monture who added that the land is still disputed and the next action natives will take is put up trespassing signs on the land against renewable energy projects. “I have no respect for Samsung. They have no respect for the wildlife. All they care about is the money,” said Monture. “It’s pretty sad that we would give up our children’s rights for a dollar.”

The Environmental Review Tribunal (ERT) requested both written and oral submissions from all parties with the purpose of giving everyone a final opportunity to be heard. Monture and Green’s case revolved around the damage that the industrial wind turbines (IWT) could cause to the environment. They pled to the tribunal stating that Six Nations people live and rely heavily on that land.

Other arguments included the negative and irreversible effects the turbines could create to humans and animals; participants demanded more studies to be done including consideration of shadow flicker, which can create distractions for farmers operating farm equipment as well as reconsideration of the power line route. Read article

“I See”

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by Harvey Wrightman
Perhaps the biggest problem with these Environmental Review Tribunal appeal hearings is we get only the “appearance” of a fair hearing. Tuesday’s session was at the Kohler Community Centre, a WW2 Air Force barracks, well maintained by the onsite caretaker who obviously must do wonders with a limited budget – I hope that point is appreciated by the team of lawyers (some @ $500/hour) who descend on our rural communities. Wishful thinking – all we get from these people are averted looks, fake smiles and condescending remarks. Like a crew of evangelists sweeping into a new land, there is no regard let alone respect for local opinion and knowledge. Our thoughts are to be replaced with the new “green” beliefs.

The room is small and we sat directly behind the Samsung counsel, Sarah Powell and Matthew Milne-Smith (hired gun prepped and loaded for the day), sitting side-by-each to the Ministry of Environment’s Frederika Rotter and Sarah Kromkamp. A tangle of cords going to the court recorder and from there to the panel members connected them all to netbook computers so that they could scroll through all the documents, and read the transcript easily. But the lines ended there. None of the appellants had the electronic hook-ups. Why? – well it was all paid for by Samsung. They aren’t going to feed the locals/plebs. Yes, that means OUR MOE has documents that as a government ministry should freely make available to us. Another example of “loading the dice”, but no surprise as this government is deep into money addiction and casinos.

The opposing counsel were nervous – Freddy back to nail biting, repeatedly turning to the audience and faintly expressing a wolfish grin. Milne-Smith (umbrella man), sat stiffly with his shoes turned up and I couldn’t help but notice that his shoes had been resoled more than once, the last time a partial heel was applied at a very odd angular cut. I guess Matthew hangs onto his nickles! Continue reading →

Wind farm stirs up friction between first nations

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The Globe and Mail
The rugged shores and forests that skirt Lake Superior have long lured natural-resource hunters. In the mid-1800s, British and Canadian prospectors came in search of copper and other lucrative minerals. Nearly a century later, the Group of Seven visited to draw inspiration from the land and water for their unforgettable canvases of Canada.

Today, the wind is drawing a new breed of resource seekers to the region and stirring up friction between some aboriginal groups. One energy project in particular is dividing the Batchewana and Anishinabek first nations. Led by Calgary-based BluEarth Renewables, the Bow Lake Wind Farm proposes to erect 36 turbines predominantly on provincial Crown land about 80 kilometres northwest of Sault Ste. Marie, near the eastern edge of Lake Superior and just south of the Montreal River.

The crux of the dispute isn’t the size of the turbines or their noise, factors that underlie myriad other wind-farm battles in Ontario. This quarrel centres on territory and which aboriginal group has the right to an economic share of the 60-megawatt project and its guaranteed cash flow under Ontario’s green-energy program.

For Batchewana, the stakes are high. The first nation, which includes about 2,500 members, has a 50-per-cent stake in the $240-million wind farm, which has been in the works since 2007. Once the Bow Lake energy project is connected to the power grid, it is projected to deliver $2-million annually for nearly two decades to the Batchewana community, money that Chief Dean Sayers said will be used to address local needs, such as housing and economic development.

The Anishinabek’s opposition, which surfaced publicly last week, could delay the project’s construction and lead to financial penalties for missed deadlines, Mr. Sayers said. Read article

Batchewana says door has always been open to Michipicoten on wind farm

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Michael Purvis, Sault Star
Batchewana First Nation says it has been trying to consult with Michipicoten First Nation on a planned wind farm for the last five years. Batchewana also refutes Michipicoten’s claim that the 36-turbine wind farm is set for Michipicoten territory.

The territory dispute came to light last week when the Anishinabek Nation announced that its northern Lake Superior chiefs had voted to oppose the wind farm, which Michipicoten Chief Joe Buckell charges is not part of Batchewana’s traditional territory. Batchewana Chief Dean Sayers and its partners, representatives of the private company that is leading the $240-million Bow Lake wind farm project, held a press conference on Wednesday morning to address Buckell’s charges.

Batchewana says Michipicoten has known about the project since the fall of 2007, and Batchewana and the companies involved in the wind farm development have made extensive efforts to both engage and consult with Michipicoten since then. Sayers said Buckell’s opposition to the project comes at the “eleventh hour,” with public hearings already started. “I believe we have gone to huge effort to engage Michipicoten,” said Sayers, in an interview Wednesday morning.

Calgary-based BluEarth Renewables Inc., the lead partner in the two-phase wind-farm project, is in the process of holding public meetings on its Bow Lake Wind Project, which would generate up to 60mw of electricity. Read article

BluEarth wind farm project: Batchewana or Michipicoten territory?

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SooToday
Northern Superior Chiefs oppose wind farm due to lack of consultation
FORT WILLIAM FN – Anishinabek Nation Northern Superior Chiefs passed a resolution that opposes wind farm construction in Anishinabek traditional territory near Michipicoten First Nation due to lack of consultation. “There was no consultation with the developer BluEarth Renewables,” says Chief Buckell of Michipicoten First Nation. “It seems that Batchewana First Nation has made a deal with BluEarth Renewables and Batchewana claims that they consider it their area which is a least 50 Kilometres from their reserve. They are ignoring the Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850 where the boundaries are clearly stated. This needs to be addressed by the federal government.”

BluEarth Renewables intent is to erect 36 wind turbines approximately 80 kilometres north of Sault Ste. Marie, close to Lake Superior’s eastern shore and south of the Montreal River – which is in Michipicoten First Nation territory. Other Anishinabek Nation communities do have wind farm projects on the go – and had meaningful consultation with the wind farm companies involved.

“Direct action by the Northern Superior Chiefs will take place if BluEarth wind farm project moves forward with the venture,” says Buckell. Read article