Action Plan Cause for Cross Lake Celebration

Press Release
Aboriginal Neighbours

CROSS LAKE, Man. - The Pimicikamak Cree at Cross Lake and Manitoba government officials announced a 15-month action plan recently to implement aspects of the Northern Flood Agreement (NFA).

Braving a bitter wind on December 16, they turned sod for a new bridge, cut ribbon in front of the NFA Implementation Office, and feasted in the Cross Lake arena after announcing numerous NFA-related projects, including an accelerated debris-cleanup effort. The day marked the 25th anniversary of the signing of the NFA.

"It feels good to be able to share some good news with Pimicikamak people," said Chief Miswagon to a large assembly.

Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) was represented at the event after decades of Mennonite involvement with the people of Cross Lake. "We wanted to congratulate all parties for building trust but we also wanted to witness the making of solemn promises, knowing that they have been broken before," said Rick Zerbe Cornelsen.

Menno Wiebe, longtime MCC worker, remembers the promises made 25 years ago. "I commend the Cree for honouring their NFA obligations. But will the new bridge truly help them gain access to their own resource base? That remains a fundamental and largely unresolved issue."

The plan to implement the government's NFA obligations without signing a supplemental agreement is a vindication for the Pimicikamak approach to the NFA, said Cornelsen. In 1997 Pimicikamak rejected a $110 million buy-out in favour of the original NFA, which they view as a workable treaty lasting the lifetime of the hydro-electric project.

"Money was hardly mentioned this time," said Cornelsen. "No ‘deals' were signed." He sees that as implicit recognition that the Pimicikamak Cree have already paid a huge price. "NFA implementation is a legitimate return on their investment in the well-being of southern Canadians."

Benefits to Pimicikamak people will include jobs and the development of local expertise as a result of stepped up environmental cleanup around the Jenpeg dam. Increased recreational, cultural and economic initiatives are included in the plan. Long-overdue land transfers were also announced and a commitment was made to continue planning for actions beyond the present 15-month agenda.

Respect for government-to-government relationships and protocol was observed during the event. Oscar Lathlin, recently named Manitoba's aboriginal affairs minister, was one of three ministers present who traded speeches and circulated around the arena in pairs with their Pimicikamak counterparts. In the absence of his counterpart--the Premier--Chief Miswagon remained a silent observer until he took the stage for the final speech of the day. In it he paid tribute to the late elder Sandy Beardy, whose last words to him were "Don't ever sell the treaties. They belong to the children and the unborn." As for whether these developments spell the end of public debate, Pimicikamak staff member Will Braun said: "The story will continue to be told but now the good stuff becomes part of the story."