Hydro-Québec says that the geotechnical work is suspending in Gull Island after the members of the Innu community of Labrador blocked the area on Wednesday night.
In a French statement to Radio-Canada on Thursday morning, the company said it respects the right of community members to express their concerns with the project and that recognizes the cultural, historical and spiritual importance of the territory of the island of La Gull for INNU communities.
“We are monitoring this close situation, with the openness and a complete commitment to better understand the concerns of the protesters,” wrote Hydro-Québec spokeswoman, Lynn St-Laurent.
Some 20 protesters gathered in the area on Wednesday night, blocking the roads on the site where Hydro-Qébec hopes to build a new hydroelectric project, in association with Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro, on the Lower Churchill River.
A protester told CBC News that they plan to stay there until Thursday.
The Labrador Innu reached an agreement in principle with Hydro-Québec in June. The agreement would see the company pay $ 87 million to a conciliation fund for Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation and Mushuau Innu First Nation in annual payments for 16 years.
But the land is traditionally used for the Manishan Nui meeting, which brings together the community annually during the third week of September.
Around 20 Innu protested on the road that leads to Gull Island on Wednesday, the proposed development site for a new hydroelectric project. They are asking leaders to face the project. Hydro-Quebec has since announced that geotechnical work will be suspended on the site. Before that announcement, Sheshatshiu’s resident Chris Dyke shared his concerns about the project with Andrea McGuare of CBC.
On Tuesday, the company said workers would be on the ground to collect environmental data, complete surveys and install construction trailers as part of geotechnical and environmental studies. Examining the Earth would include some perforations and tree cleaning.
The study is expected to cost between $ 10 and $ 15 million, and a staff of between 10 and 40 people are expected to be on the field until the end of September until mid -October.
Chris Dyke, who was part of the barricade on Wednesday night, told CBC News that the loss of those reasons is not worth money.
“The meeting site is to unite people, not destroy it,” he said. “Everyone loves money. I also love money, but only a couple of days of money will have here.”
Betty Sillitt, another protester, said that the members of the Innu community want to meet with Hydro-Québec to discuss how much money has passed to Innu Nation’s leadership.
“This is the only way it could be resolved,” he wrote in a text message to CBC News on Thursday afternoon.
St-Laurent said the company “will continue the dialogue we have started with community representatives to better understand their concerns and discuss the next steps in a spirit of mutual respect.”
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