First Nation says Manitoba Hydro's 'environmental colonialism' decimating lake sturgeon
'The Churchill River diversion works against nature,' says Tataskweyak Cree Nation Chief Doreen Spence
Tataskweyak Cree Nation says Manitoba Hydro operations have compromised the ecosystem of the lower Churchill River and caused the "near demise" of lake sturgeon.
The First Nation, located at Split Lake on the Nelson River system in northern Manitoba, blames the Churchill River Diversion for altering the flow and depth of waterways in the area.
While the sturgeon were "once abundant and harvested by First Nations throughout the river system, only one population remains at the confluence of the lower Churchill River and the Little Churchill River," states a news release from the First Nation, which also held a news conference Thursday at the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs office in Winnipeg.
The diversion, which began operating in 1976, redirects water from the Churchill River to the Nelson River basin to increase the water flow to generating stations on the lower Nelson.
"[It] has emptied the lower Churchill, and it's destroyed the surrounding environment," Tataskweyak Chief Doreen Spence said Thursday.
Seven years ago, Tataskweyak hired independent researchers to study sturgeon, their habitat, and whether Hydro's operations have played a role in the declining population. The results show Hydro has "fundamentally compromised the ecosystem … and caused the near demise of namao (lake sturgeon)," the release states.
"We are one with namao. Our way of life, their way of life, is tied to the land and water," said Tataskweyak knowledge keeper Robert Spence.
"But now, our rivers are ruined and our way of life, and that of namao, are falling victim to environmental colonialism."
Lake sturgeon are Manitoba's largest freshwater fish, and "were a staple of our lakes and rivers and Indigenous cultures long before Canada existed," a Manitoba Hydro website says.
Tataskweyak has posted three reports on its website to explain the findings of its research, and suggest how the Churchill diversion can be adjusted to better align with the river's natural flow while still allowing power generation along the Nelson.
"We have the right to maintain our culture and way of life and protect our relations. This new research shows Manitoba Hydro can alter its operations to better protect the environment, honour our treaty rights, and ultimately our way of life," Chief Spence said.
"Right now, the Churchill River Diversion works against nature. The river has a rhythm, the diversion operates in opposition to that rhythm."
The diversion began operations without an environmental assessment or meaningful consultation with First Nations, Tataskweyak claims.
Under current licence conditions, up to 98 per cent of the Churchill River's water is rerouted to flow down the Burntwood and Nelson Rivers to Hydro generating stations, according to Tataskweyak.
In a statement sent to CBC, Manitoba Hydro said the Churchill River Diversion is "an integral component" of its overall system, and operating decisions "must balance a range of factors," including energy security and affordability.
'Let's do this together'
That diversion fluctuates depending on Hydro's needs, but has resulted in historically low flows, interrupted by unprecedented flood events, and disrupted the natural flow of the lower Churchill, Tataskweyak's news release states.
Some years, the river freezes "to the bed or close to it, leaving no or little water for the sturgeon to survive over winter," it says.
During open-water seasons, the lower Churchill system may have so little water that it resembles "long shallow lakes with streams in between," according to the release.
Tataskweyak is not demanding Hydro leave the area or halt operations, Chief Spence said.
"We are saying, you know, let's talk about this. Let's do this together in a way that protects nature."
The First Nation wants Hydro to allow the Churchill River's flow regime to mimic the natural seasonal pattern of a northern river — an approach it says would maintain power generation while providing sturgeon with the conditions needed to recover "before this unique species is lost forever."
Manitoba Hydro says it just received Tataskweyak's technical report Thursday and isn't prepared to comment on its findings or recommendations.
A spokesperson said the Crown corporation said Hydro has worked with Tataskweyak since 2011 to study lake sturgeon populations in the river. That includes providing $1.5 million in funding since 2018 for the Tataskweyak to conduct its own research, according to Hydro.
Tataskweyak's past research, "like that previously undertaken by Manitoba Hydro, indicates there is a stable lake sturgeon population at the confluence of the Churchill and Little Churchill rivers," media relations spokesperson Peter Chura said in a statement.
But Chief Spence called on the province to consider the new research and do proper environmental assessments before renewing Hydro's application for re-licensing of the Churchill River Diversion in 2026.
"That status quo's not good enough here," she said. "We are also asking the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to do its job under the Fisheries Act to protect fish and fish habitat."
Chura said Manitoba Hydro has always operated the diversion "in full compliance with its licence conditions."
In an emailed statement to CBC News, a Manitoba government spokesperson wrote, "The current waterpower licence for the Churchill River diversion includes conditions that address many of the environmental impacts from legacy power developments.
"We anticipate discussing this further as we review their study in context with the previous studies on the sturgeon population and examine the ongoing environmental impacts of legacy waterpower developments," the spokesperson added.
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With files from Bryce Hoye