BETSIAMITES RIVER: SALMON CATCHES FROM 1948 à 2015

Transcription

1 ANNUAL CATCHES SALMONS R² = YEARS BETSIAMITES RIVER: SALMON CATCHES FROM 1948 à 2015

2 A N U N A F F O R D A B L E L E G A L B A T T L E T O S A V E T H E B E T S I A M I T ES R I V E R S A L M O N : T H E I D E A L S T A T U S Q U O S C E N A R I O F O R Q U E B EC & H Y D R O - Q U EB E C Predicted length and cost of legal proceedings against Quebec & Hydro-Quebec: far beyond Pessamit s financial capacity. Pessamit s budget imperatively bound to population s first line services. Pessamit & Quebec socioeconomic development indexes: -. vs. Pessamit & Quebec unemployment rates:. % vs. %. Pessamit & Quebec adults on social security programs: % vs. %. Pessamit & Quebec available income per capita: CAD$ vs CAD$.

3 A N U N A F F O R D A B L E L E G A L B A T T L E T O S A V E T H E B E T S I A M I T ES R I V E R S A L M O N : T H E I D E A L S T A T U S Q U O S C E N A R I O F O R Q U E B EC & H Y D R O - Q U EB E C A young population: % years old experiencing a suicide rate times higher than Canadians from the same age group. HOPE FOR OUR C HILDREN MUST TAKE ROOT IN SOCIAL F AIRNESS

4 BETSIAMITES SALMON: NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL STATUS ( 1 O F 2) C A N A D A S P E C I ES A T R I S K P U BL I C R E G I S TRY Quebec s western North Shore Atlantic salmon population is designated as a special concern. The population may become threatened or endangered due to a combination of biological factors and identified threats.

5 BETSIAMITES SALMON: NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL STATUS ( 1 O F 2) CONVENTION FOR THE CONSER VATION OF SA L MON I N THE NOR TH ATLANTIC OCEAN & NASCO In addition to the United States, Canada is signatory to the Convention. Performance of member countries is, among other things, assessed according to the following criteria: Measures taken and other factors, both inside and outside the commission area, that affect the salmon stocks concerned. Efforts of states of origin to implement and enforce measures for the conservation, restauration, enhancement and rational management of salmon stocks in their rivers and areas of fisheries jurisdiction.

6 BETSIAMITES SALMON: NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL STATUS ( 2 OF 2) UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEA ARTICLE CONSERVATION OF LIVING RESSOURCES : «Such measures shall also be designed to maintain and restore populations of harvested species at levels which can produce the maximum sustainable yield, as qualified by relevant environmental and economic factors, including the economic needs of coastal fishing communities» ARTICLE ANADROMOUS STOCKS : «States in whose rivers anadromous stocks originate shall have the primary interest in and responsability for such stocks.»

7 BETSIAMITES SALMON: NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL STATUS ( 2 OF 2) D ESPITE OPINION OF CANADIAN EXPERTS AND INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS Hydro-Quebec and its sole shareholder, the Quebec Government, pay absolutely no regard to the risk status of salmon and litterally trample two international conventions. Through Hydro-Quebec and Quebec s complacency, Canada s performance stands well below its international commitments.

8 CANADA S INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENTS IN REGARD TO PESSAMIT ANCESTRAL RIGHTS UNITED NATIONS DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS P EOPLES ARTICLE (EXCERPT) : «States shall provide effective mechanims for prevention of, and redress for : any action which has the aim or effect of dispossessing them of their lands, territories or resources.» ARTICLE (EXCERPT) : «Indigenous peoples deprived o f their means of subsistence and developement are entitled to just and fair redress.»

9 CANADA S INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENTS IN REGARD TO PESSAMIT ANCESTRAL RIGHTS F R OM N OW O N, S USTAINED I NTERNATIONAL A CTION I S IMPERATIVE C H ANGE THE C O URSE O F H I STORY T O Pessamit s societal relationship with Quebec, based on common aspirations and shared values since the XVI th century, fell into unilateralism by the mid XIX th century. Since then, Pessamiulnut collective rights are considered as an historical mistake by Quebec.

10 (1 OF 2) THE MISSING LINK T h e N or thern P a ss w e bsite h as r ecently b een c hanged. T h e l i nk t h at w a s c r eated w i th H ydro-quebec, e n titled w w w.hydroforthefuture.com d i sappeared i nto c y ber s pace. I n it, H y dro-quebec h ad m a de t h e f ollowing r e markable s t atements: «H y d r o -Queb e c d o e s n o t b u ild a hyd r o p ow e r p r o j e ct unless it is fa vorab ly r e c e ived by t he c o mm unit ies. In ad d it ion t h e c o m pa n y ta k e s a ll t he n e c es sa r y st e ps to e ns u r e t hat t h e hos t c o mm u n it ies, includ ing Ab o r ig ina l c o m m unit ies, ar e involved in d e velop m e nt a n d b e nefit f r o m e c o nom ic s p inoffs in a ll s t a g e s of it s p r o j e c t s.» «H y d r o -Queb e c e nd e a vours to d e velop m u t ua lly b e neficia l p a rt ners hip s w it h Ab o r ig ina l c o m m unit ies t hroug h f o r m a l a g r e e m e nt s.»

11 (2 OF 2) «Hy d ro-queb ec is a mong the Ca nad ia n compa nies tha t ma intain pa rticularly close ties with a borig ina l communities. The Compa ny ensures tha t they p articip a te in even the first phases of its projects, and consid ers them to be front-line p la yers. This app roa ch is ba sed on rela tionship s tha t resp ect the interests, va lues a nd culture of the va rious ab orig ina l communities. Fulfillment of commitments a nd ong oing d ia logue a re a lso essentia l for mutua l und ersta nding.» «For over 50 y ea rs, Hy dro-quebec ha s harnessed a nd d evelp ed this p otentia l (hy drop ower resources ) with a view to p rofitab ility a nd with d ue respect for the environment a nd host communities.» Hydro-Quebec s withdrawal of their questionable statements coincides strangely with Pessamit s new media positioning

12 CONSIDERING THAT: The Betsiamites river has been and still is the subject of illegal, repeated and harmful actions with total disregard to Pessamit s rights and international conventions; CONSIDERING THAT: The Betsiamites river is exploited by Hydro-Quebec to meet short term peak demand needed for exportation despite anticipated extinction of its salmon population; CONSIDERING THAT : Neither the Government of Quebec and Hydro-Quebec are taking into consideration the anticipated and undeclared aforementionned impacts of the exportation project;

13 THE PESSAMIT INNU FIRST NATION REQUIRES : The respect of its r ights, the strict observance of r e lated international conventions and co nfirms its firm o pposition t o t he «Quebec New Ha mpshire Interconnection Project». Our duty of remembrance to our ancestors and our moral obligation to give hope back to our children, no longer allows us to accept the prevailing party s detrimental decision. Chief René Simon September 29, 2016

14 THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TSHINASHKUMITIN ALL QUESTIONS ARE WELCOME, PARTICULARLY THE MOST DIFFICULT ONES PESSAMIT INNU FIRST NATION