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DAM-L Season's Greetings from PCN (fwd)
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To: William_J_Braun@mennonitecc.ca
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Date: Mon, 20 Nov 2000 22:05:39 -0600
Subject: Season's Greetings from PCN
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To: William J Braun/Winnipeg/MCC
From: Will Braun
Date: 11/20/2000 9:54:59 PM
Subj: Season's Greetings from PCN
[PCN Letterhead]
18 November 2000
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS A REMINDER OF DESPAIR FOR CREES LIVING IN THE SHADOW OF
HYDROELECTRIC DAMS
Pimicikamak Cree Deliver Seasons Greetings at Manitoba Hydro Parade
WINNIPEG MB
[Charset iso-8859-1 unsupported, filtering to ASCII...]
? Representatives of Pimicikamak Cree Nation at Cross Lake,
Manitoba will be handing out Christmas cards to the crowd at today?s Manitoba
Hydro Festival of Lights Parade (see wording of card below).
Christmas lights in Winnipeg are powered by some of the cheapest and most
reliable electricity on the continent. Three quarters of this yuletide power is
produced on the Nelson River System, of which Cross Lake is a part. In order to
produce this power, Manitoba Hydro, with the cooperation of governments,
continue to devastate the lands and way of life of the Pimicikamak Cree Nation
(PCN). This makes Christmas in Cross Lake very different than in southern
Manitoba.
?At Christmas time we are again reminded that we do not share in the prosperity
of the province,? says PCN Chief John Miswagon. ?We feel like we have to watch
from the sidelines as Manitobans celebrate Christmas by the glow of lights
powered by a hydro mega-project that causes us such hardship.?
Pimicikamak Cree Nation is not calling for Manitobans to unplug their Christmas
trees but to be aware of the need for their utility and governments to ensure
that all citizens have opportunity to lead a life worth celebrating.
The 5000 people of the Cross Lake community live on the Nelson River system
north of Lake Winnipeg and 530 kms north of Winnipeg.
Chief Miswagon highlights the hardships of life at the northern end of the power
line: ?It is hard to celebrate when the beauty of your land is destroyed, when
you can no longer be out on the land doing the things you love, when there is
rampant unemployment in your community, when you have to fear the next rash of
suicides, when your young people have a bleak future, and little opportunity
ahead of them.?
For more information contact: Chief John Miswagon (204) 679-0852 (cell phone).
______________________________________
The Card read as follows:
Season's Greetings from
Pimicikamak Cree Nation at Cross Lake
Lights add to the joy and festivity of this season.
As the Pimicikamak Cree people, whose home lands lie on the Nelson River around
Cross Lake at the heart of Manitoba, we wish to join you in the celebration and
abundance of Christmas.
Please know that electricity illuminating your Christmas is produced in our
traditional home land. We are glad for the warmth this power provides for your
families.
Sadly, Christmas lights remind us that hydroelectric dams have harmed our lands
and way of life. The dams render inaccessible to us the richness of our
resource base.
We ask only that the prosperity of our home territory be accessible to us, so
that we can celebrate with you as dignified and self-reliant residents of this
province.
www.UnplugManitobaHydro.org
hydrojustice@canada.com
----- End of forwarded message from William_J_Braun@mennonitecc.ca -----