Chruchill Development Beginning Prematurely

Letter to the Editor of "The Labradorian"

I’m very confused and angry. Why has the government and Hydro started preparing for the dams already? There has been no vote or referendum. The people have not agreed to this and yet it looks like the government is already starting. At Muskrat Falls they have started cutting trees and from the dump road they are making it new in order to bring their machines through. Aren’t they supposed to wait until the Innu people make a decision? This is our land and our river. The government should wait. No one has said, “Yes, go ahead.” Why are they starting so quickly? Every time when the government starts doing a new project, like with Voisey’s Bay and now with the Churchill River Dams, they always ask the Innu youth to come and work. But they are just using them so they won’t say anything. A lot of young people from Sheshatshiu are already working cutting trees at Muskrat. Young Innu people also went to work in Voisey’s, but now there are very few Innu working there. Several years ago with the low level flying protests, many people came together to talk and to fight. But money is so strong now; it has changed people’s minds. Now even the women want more money. Yet, the more money we get, the more we fight amongst ourselves.

This summer we went on the canoe trip again along the Mista-Shipu from August 24 to September 1. There were 6 canoes and 13 people. I’ve done this 13 years now. The canoe trip is not easy. It’s very difficult work, paddling long days. I’m not doing this just for fun; I’m doing this because it’s so important to me and important for the land and my people.

Every summer when I’ve gone on the canoe trip, I feel like I’m surrounded by human beings—the trees, river, mountains—all living, growing things. It hurts me to think about all these things dying. I know animals don’t talk, but I feel like they are saying they want to live. I think about all the people who have hunted and traveled along the Mista-Shipu for all these thousands of years. When the water floods from the dam, all this will be lost. I don’t want to see again what happened in Churchill Falls so many years ago. We lost so many things—burial grounds, Innu hunting areas and many animals. I want to protect the river for all the children. There are many, many children and will be more. I don’t know how many tears I’m going to cry if I see this dam built. When I started the canoe trips, I thought it would make a difference. I feel very sad now.

Starting on the Mista-Shipu

We started paddling yesterday from Churchill Falls. The weather was very good. I think it will be a good trip. We have a smaller group this year, 13 people in total, 6 canoes. I am happy these friends support me and are concerned about Mista-Shipu. The canoe trip is very important to me for maintaining the culture of my people and protecting the land. I was very sad that the Innu from my community who had hoped to come along weren't able to. Next week there is a gathering with the elders and it could be some wanted to stay home for that. The trip also happened at the same time that the community received money from the goverment, which might also be a reason. We are hoping to be back by early September. Please pray for us--for safety and a good trip.

Canoe Trip Next Week

We will be starting the canoe trip this next Tuesday. I have been very busy recently preparing for the trip and so haven’t had time to write, but I will try to write about it when we return. I wanted to ask you all to pray for us for a safe trip. Just like a human being, the trees and the river talk to me, asking me to help them! They are saying “I don’t want to die. Please help me!” I will be very sad if they are damaged and all the animals and river are hurt. It is very important. Thank you for your prayers.

Poster for Canoe trip 2010 coming up in August!

Elizabeth & Francis canoing on Lake Melville during Aboriginal Day at Sheshatshiu.

Elizabeth and Francis by Muskrat Falls along Mista Shipu, one of the proposed Hydro development sites.

New Spring Walk Poster

Please note the change of date for the Spring Snowshoe walk again. Sorry for any inconvenience. The warm weather this year makes it impossible to walk the same path as previous years, and there are many other community events this March. Here is the new poster.

CROSSTALK Radio Noon with Elizabeth

On January 18, 2010 Elizabeth was on CBC Labrador Radio Noon Crosstalk answering questions about Innu way of life and Culture. To download the podcast, "right click" on the link below:

http://podcast.cbc.ca/mp3/nlradionoon_20100118_26016.mp3

The mp3 file runs 46:16 minutes.