The Splatsin First Nation is speaking out against BC Hydro’s plan to decommission a historic North Okanagan dam, saying the utility is not living up to its obligations under the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Splatsin chief, Kukpi7 Wayne Christian, said the Splatsin do not consent to the decommissioning of the Wilsey Dam near Lumby.
“We were actually in discussions with them and then they just went ahead and made the announcement,” said Christian.
BC Hydro announced this week it is pursuing decommissioning the historic dam to give salmon access to return to spawning habitat upstream of Shuswap Falls and the dam.
“We’ve looked at refurbishing the Wilsey Dam and adding a fish channel, and another alternative we studied was decommissioning the facility,” said BC Hydro spokesperson Dag Sharman.
“Decommissioning the facility is what we determined to be the leading alternative. It’s an alternative that is more cost-effective. It’s the alternative that will have the greatest chance of getting salmon back up above Shuswap Falls.”
However, the Splatsin First Nation has a different vision for the site.
The First Nation said it offered to acquire the dam and “turn it into a run-of-the-river system to recover the salmon population and generate power and economic opportunities at the same time.”
“We see this area as an area we would like to re-settle and re-populate because we had people living there prior to all this taking place, in the early 1800s. So we would really like to get back there and a part of that would be the actual energy being provided,” Christian said.
BC Hydro said the alternative proposed by the First Nation was “not financially feasible for BC Hydro or its ratepayers.”
“We’ve worked with local Indigenous groups and others throughout this process and will continue to work with them through the process,” said Sharman.
While BC Hydro continues to pursue decommissioning the dam, it’s not a done deal and there is a lengthy regulatory process ahead before decommissioning could take place.
In the meantime, talks between the Splatsin First Nation and Crown corporation are expected to continue.
Meanwhile, another Indigenous group, the Okanagan Indian Band, supports the decommissioning of the dam.
Comments