October 7, 2007
It's Not Worth It
The Ashlu Creek Power Project is a hydroelectric project in the Ashlu Valley. It's to generate 49 megawatts of electricity, and a better, "greener" alternative to Hydro Dams that were built up until now. It's not through the publicly owned corporation BC Hydro, but through licenses given from the Liberal Provincial government to private corporations. This is the first, and by far the largest project initiative right now. The Ashlu Power Project is being done by Ledcor, a transnational corporation. It aims to divert the Ashlu River for 7km through a mountain, into the turbines, then pump the water back into the River.
This a part of a larger initiative to move all BC water power from publicly owned to privately own rivers. It's a end run around the Supreme Court decision, and aims to take indigenous land away. Once the land is handed over to the corporations, Aboriginal title is gone. Corrupt band politicians think they can create "economic development" and "job training" with these "opportunities". They trade money in this generation for the irreversible damage done to the land. I recently had the opportunity to travel to my territory, a xay temixw (sacred land) or Wild Spirit place, called the Ashlu Valley.
1% revenue they claim is worth it.
7km of land destroyed is worth it
Stay tuned for more...
This a part of a larger initiative to move all BC water power from publicly owned to privately own rivers. It's a end run around the Supreme Court decision, and aims to take indigenous land away. Once the land is handed over to the corporations, Aboriginal title is gone. Corrupt band politicians think they can create "economic development" and "job training" with these "opportunities". They trade money in this generation for the irreversible damage done to the land. I recently had the opportunity to travel to my territory, a xay temixw (sacred land) or Wild Spirit place, called the Ashlu Valley.
1% revenue they claim is worth it.
7km of land destroyed is worth it
Stay tuned for more...
8 comments:
It's true, your blog does look good.
What about power projects, though, that can benefit a Nation? Would you believe that that could happen?
There's a similar run-of-river project by a company called Cloudworks that is planning (planning) to branch power off to a band of communities that have been running off diesel generators since their "Indian Reserves" came into effect.
This would provide them with electricity and eventually the capacity, through infrastructure, to have a reliable phone and internet service as well. These are communities in dire need of infrastructure development.
Can you see that as a healthy trade-off?
I'm actually asking, there's no sarcasm or patronizing here.
What about power projects, though, that can benefit a Nation? Would you believe that that could happen?
There's a similar run-of-river project by a company called Cloudworks that is planning (planning) to branch power off to a band of communities that have been running off diesel generators since their "Indian Reserves" came into effect.
This would provide them with electricity and eventually the capacity, through infrastructure, to have a reliable phone and internet service as well. These are communities in dire need of infrastructure development.
Can you see that as a healthy trade-off?
I'm actually asking, there's no sarcasm or patronizing here.
Anonymous, thanks for the comment.
Economic development seems like a sound goal to have, but it really comes down to at what cost.
If we start acting like actual nations instead of using the word like Big Men use the word "chief". (By actual living up the word you use), it really comes down to our sovereignty.
Then we look at the three basic needs of a sovereignty.
- Homes
- Water
- Food
All three of these things right now are controlled by the Colonial state, and not by us. From there we can get into things such as governance, language, history, right, land, and things like that.
So the rights to the water, and the land, and the food. If this "power-project" for these reserves works, and doesn't compromise indigenous principles, then yes I would agree with it. (The question is a bit open ended so I can't really say anything definitive unless I knew the specific circumstances of the project and nation)
Any trade off is not healthy. How much must we compromise in our lands for what is rightfully ours. We have to play in their courts, in their political systems, in their economic system, and their culture. When as Settler governments or Settler society come to play in our game. Of course it hasn't happened because it's about power. The Colonial governments have the power, and we don't.
It's about empowering our people to be a nation.
Economic development seems like a sound goal to have, but it really comes down to at what cost.
If we start acting like actual nations instead of using the word like Big Men use the word "chief". (By actual living up the word you use), it really comes down to our sovereignty.
Then we look at the three basic needs of a sovereignty.
- Homes
- Water
- Food
All three of these things right now are controlled by the Colonial state, and not by us. From there we can get into things such as governance, language, history, right, land, and things like that.
So the rights to the water, and the land, and the food. If this "power-project" for these reserves works, and doesn't compromise indigenous principles, then yes I would agree with it. (The question is a bit open ended so I can't really say anything definitive unless I knew the specific circumstances of the project and nation)
Any trade off is not healthy. How much must we compromise in our lands for what is rightfully ours. We have to play in their courts, in their political systems, in their economic system, and their culture. When as Settler governments or Settler society come to play in our game. Of course it hasn't happened because it's about power. The Colonial governments have the power, and we don't.
It's about empowering our people to be a nation.
There are certain costs to economic development, and yes, projects like this may often result in a loss of control over a certain part of land (as minimal as they say it is...)
It is of my opinion that economic development should be at the forefront of a way to a Nation. Only when a Nation is stable and self-sustaining will it feel the pride of being a Nation. A functioning Nation. An economy is not an enemy, but an entity to nurture. With many aboriginals having lost touch with their language and land, where can their pride be positioned?
Again, at what cost though. Very tough call, and the question will have to stay open ended as the situation does, and would, vary with every Nation.
I understand the Tsawwassen situation is a touchy area as many feel that a “treaty” is merely a different version of a surrender to the settlers. Others would feel differently.
Again, there are bound to be many losers in the deal either way.
It is of my opinion that economic development should be at the forefront of a way to a Nation. Only when a Nation is stable and self-sustaining will it feel the pride of being a Nation. A functioning Nation. An economy is not an enemy, but an entity to nurture. With many aboriginals having lost touch with their language and land, where can their pride be positioned?
Again, at what cost though. Very tough call, and the question will have to stay open ended as the situation does, and would, vary with every Nation.
I understand the Tsawwassen situation is a touchy area as many feel that a “treaty” is merely a different version of a surrender to the settlers. Others would feel differently.
Again, there are bound to be many losers in the deal either way.
The Treaty Process as a whole is barbaric. I don't see how anyone can think surrendering 98% of your territory is beneficial.
I disagree with you about economic development being the forefront. What have we become but money hungry greedy bastards. Money, money, money. Dances with Dollars?
You keep using this word "nation", but would it really be a nation. It's still subservient to colonial laws, and colonial economic system.
Money shouldn't be the front of our movement for our liberation. Decolonization, that is, restoring balance to being indigenous, needs to be the forefront. We have the capacity, we have the resource (our unceded land), and we have the right. No treaty has been signed with most nations in BC. It's all stolen land, and our land.
And if economic development comes to the main weapon used by indigenous groups, it just leads to more self-assimilation. The Squamish Indian Band is a prime example. More people are disconnected to their roots, and land. Many look for the dollar in the question, and not the indigenous in the question.
We are doomed if economic sustainability comes at the price of our identity.
"Only when a Nation is stable and self-sustaining will it feel the pride of being a Nation."
But the "economic sustainability" Gibby Jacob, Clarence Louis and Calvin Helin propose doesn't mean what it says. It's just swapping one slavery (The Colonial governments) for another slavery (the Capitalist/Colonial economic system). The idea proposed there is...well, to be like them.
Thanks for the comments though.
I disagree with you about economic development being the forefront. What have we become but money hungry greedy bastards. Money, money, money. Dances with Dollars?
You keep using this word "nation", but would it really be a nation. It's still subservient to colonial laws, and colonial economic system.
Money shouldn't be the front of our movement for our liberation. Decolonization, that is, restoring balance to being indigenous, needs to be the forefront. We have the capacity, we have the resource (our unceded land), and we have the right. No treaty has been signed with most nations in BC. It's all stolen land, and our land.
And if economic development comes to the main weapon used by indigenous groups, it just leads to more self-assimilation. The Squamish Indian Band is a prime example. More people are disconnected to their roots, and land. Many look for the dollar in the question, and not the indigenous in the question.
We are doomed if economic sustainability comes at the price of our identity.
"Only when a Nation is stable and self-sustaining will it feel the pride of being a Nation."
But the "economic sustainability" Gibby Jacob, Clarence Louis and Calvin Helin propose doesn't mean what it says. It's just swapping one slavery (The Colonial governments) for another slavery (the Capitalist/Colonial economic system). The idea proposed there is...well, to be like them.
Thanks for the comments though.
you are welcome.
Great discussion; I'd just like to throw in a quick thought...
There does not have to be any 'losers' when it come to matters of development and economy. If a State (or corporation) really engaged in negotiations with Indigenous nations, and if a process of consensus was exercised then everyone could benefit and there would be no underlining, long term consequences to the land, to sovereignty, or to anything else.
With the way states and corporations insist on proceeding though, such benefit is for now, just not possible...
There does not have to be any 'losers' when it come to matters of development and economy. If a State (or corporation) really engaged in negotiations with Indigenous nations, and if a process of consensus was exercised then everyone could benefit and there would be no underlining, long term consequences to the land, to sovereignty, or to anything else.
With the way states and corporations insist on proceeding though, such benefit is for now, just not possible...
I think I agree.
Your mention of their way of 'proceeding through' with development. I think this reflects the state of Canada right now, as we move into a strictly resource based economy nationwide. These energy companies want a foot-in.
With proper negotiations, less groups will be left behind. And I know, "money money, dances with dollars, greedy bastards" - but it's only the truth; who'll be watching from the sidelines?
Your mention of their way of 'proceeding through' with development. I think this reflects the state of Canada right now, as we move into a strictly resource based economy nationwide. These energy companies want a foot-in.
With proper negotiations, less groups will be left behind. And I know, "money money, dances with dollars, greedy bastards" - but it's only the truth; who'll be watching from the sidelines?
Your blog's looking good btw.