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DAM-L Hydro's aboriginal employment "initiative", Free Press Dec. 7/00 (fwd)



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Subject: Hydro's aboriginal employment "initiative", Free Press Dec. 7/00
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To:       William J Braun/Winnipeg/MCC
From:  wjb@mennonitecc.ca
Date:  12/07/2000  2:49:04 PM
Subj:   Hydro's aboriginal employment "initiative", Free Press Dec. 7/00


Commentary on the article below: In the 1977 NFA, Hydro promised to "employ, to
the maximum possible extent, residents of the subject Reserves in all works and
operations related to the Project and to implement forthwith practical measures
necessary to achieve that objective, including opportunities for education,
training, and particularly on-the-job training of any able and willing
resident."  Having neglected that obligation for 23 years, Hydro is now
committing to work toward Aboriginal people making up 25% of their northern work
force. This, in essence, could be considered a reduction in their commitment to
employment of PCN citizens.  Only a handful (6, the last i heard) of the
approximately 50 jobs at the Jenpeg dam near Cross Lake are held by PCN
citizens.  Recently two PCN citizens quit due to the prejudicial treatment they
received in the workplace.


Hydro announces employment plan aimed at first nations

Winnipeg Free Press
Dec. 7, 2000
p.A10

By Bud Robertson

WITHIN the next five years, aboriginal people will
make up one-quarter of Manitoba Hydro's workforce in
the North, under a memorandum of understanding signed
yesterday between aboriginal leadership and the Crown
utility.

Across the province, the number of aboriginal
employees is expected to climb to 10 per cent of the
4,000 people employed by Manitoba Hydro. Currently,
seven per cent of Hydro's workforce is of aboriginal
descent. In the North, the figure climbs to 23 per
cent, but only in construction periods.

"Today, we're here to address a major opportunity for
first nations people, and one that is very positive,"
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs grand chief Dennis White
Bird said.

White Bird noted this is the first major employment
initiative signed with Manitoba Hydro since the 1977
Northern Flood Agreement, which compensated five
northern first nations for flooding caused by the
diversion of the Churchill River into the Nelson
River.

Pimicikamak First Nation -- formerly known as Cross
Lake -- is the only first nation among the five to
pursue its claims under the original agreement. The
others have signed alternate agreements.
The first nation has taken its battle against Manitoba
Hydro to the United States, where the utility sells
electricity.

White Bird said this initiative "may be one step
towards trying to mend that relationship" between
Pimicikamak and Manitoba Hydro.

Last week, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission
approved an agreement between Xcel Energy and Manitoba
Hydro to supply power to the Minneapolis-based
utility, despite requests to hold off on endorsing a
final deal until an investigation is undertaken next
year into the socio-economic and environmental costs
of hydroelectric plants.

"There's no question that the activities of Manitoba
Hydro and aboriginal interests are closely tied to one
another," said Brennan, adding the memorandum will
help cement better relations with the utility and
first nations people.

-- With files from Canadian Press


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