LAC LA RONGE, Sask. – An Indian band in northern Saskatchewan is pleased with a settlement that was reached with one of the province’s crown corporations. Construction of SaskPower’s I1K Transmission Line negatively impacted traditional trapping activity, according to the chief of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band.
“Some trappers had to move from their family cabins and their traditional areas, the place where they carry out their way of life,” explained Tammy Cook-Searson.
Community meetings were held with SaskPower and a $75,000 settlement was reached after two years of negotiations. The Indian band says it has distributed the funds between the impacted trappers and their families.
“Although it wasn’t the amount we initially asked for, we are still pleased the trappers received compensation,” said Cook-Searson.
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SaskPower says it has programs available to compensate for lost income experienced by trappers as a result of its operations.
In December 2012, SaskPower selected Valard Construction to install transmission infrastructure from Island Falls to Key Lake. Under the terms of the contract, the utility contractor has been building approximately 300 kilometres of 230 kV transmission line in northern Saskatchewan.
Once in service, Valgaard says the new transmission line should increase reliability and provide infrastructure to meet the growing demand for power in northern areas of the province.
The project was anticipated to be complete at the end of 2015.
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