The Innu communities of Mashteuiatsh, Essipit and Pessamit want to take part in three new Seigneurie-de-Beaupré wind power projects, located in their traditional territories.
Hydro-Québec recently entered into an agreement with Boralex and Énergir to co-own three wind farms to be established in the territory of Seigneurie-de-Beaupré, the largest wind farm in the country.
This territory, which will host wind power projects, is located southwest of the traditional territories of Mashteuiatsh, Essipit and Pessamit.
Ancestor rights and Innu titles in this territory were never granted. They are held there together and they give communities the right to a high level of consultation and participation, and even, to determine and manage the use of the territory.reminded these communities in a press release published on Thursday.
It is frustrating that the Government of Quebec allows its Crown corporation to develop projects of a private nature without imposing a minimum limit for the participation of our First Country, which should be at a high level.writes, in this same press release, the head of the Pessamit Jean-Marie Vollant.
” We would like to remind the Government of Quebec that any advocate wishing to develop a project in Nitassinan, our traditional territory, must be concretely involved with our First Countries with ancestral title to this territory. “
Proponents have expressed their willingness to work with Aboriginal communities on these projects. We hope they join us quickly for the future. We are very open to this type of partnershipsaid Essipit leader Martin Dufour.
Wendake was also worried
The Seigneurie de Beaupré is also located in the territory of the Wendake community, near Quebec.
In a written statement sent to Indigenous Spaces, the Huron-Wendat Nation Council of Wendake confirms that it is this project was well known to be deployed on its territory, the Nionwentsïo.
We benefit from a very good partnership with promoters, Boralex, Énergir and Hydro-Québeccan we also read in this statement.
The full participation of the Huron-Wendat Nation in this major project is essential and the promoters are currently working with the Nation in this direction and in respect of our ancestral rights resulting from the agreements.ends with the Huron-Wendat Nation Council without mentioning the Innu communities.
For its part, Hydro-Québec ensures its purpose is to carry out this project in the spirit of collaboration with local communities and indigenous communities and Boralex is currently in talks with Wendat and Innu.
Source: Radio-Canada
