This is in response to the article published in December 18, 2000, entitled "Buying into Hydro Dams: a closer look at the "new deal". The author, William Osborne, a member of the Executive Council of Pimicikamak Cree Nation has done a disservice to the Tataskweyak Cree Nation at Split Lake, which I represent, by stating that its recently signed Agreement in principle with Manitoba Hydro relating to future development of a generating station at Gull Rapids is "a cynical and depressing development" or that it is "a publicity stunt". It is unfortunate that Osborne chose not to examine the Agreement in Principle at all and did not take the opportunity to discover the facts. However, for your readers, Tataskweyak Cree Nation states that the facts are as follows:

1. Tataskweyak Cree Nation has been a leader in implementing the Northern Flood Agreement. Its success is apparent in that three other Northern Flood Agreement First Nations have chosen the implementation path, while free to do otherwise. Osborne quotes Hydro's CEO Bob Brennan as referring to the "extinguishments" of NFA obligations to the Bands. If that was Hydro's intention in 1988, it is not what happened by the time Tataskweyak actually negotiated and signed the 1992 Split Lake Cree Implementation Agreement. If Osborne read the 1992 Implementation Agreement he would know that the NFA obligations of Hydro are alive and well in several key areas and that Hydro obligations have been defined and improved upon others. There was no "extinguishments".

2. The future is brighter for Tataskweyak Cree nation members because of the 1992 Implementation Agreement benefits. Improvements to the land exchange promised under the NFA, meaningful rights to participate as a party in joint management of land and resources within the Split Lake Resources Area, the establishment of ongoing environmental, monitoring and remediation programs, significant community investment with improvements to the employment of members and community infrastructure, are all significant benefits that have flowed from the 1992 Agreement. We respect the right of PCN to follow a different path of implementation and hope they have achieved similar benefits.

3. The 1992 Agreement is one building block for Tataskweyak Cree Nation. The foundation remains the NFA and the recently signed Agreement in Principle with Manitoba Hydro is an additional building block based upon the foundation of the NFA and the 1992 Implementation Agreement.

4. If Osborne read the Agreement in Principle he would know that Tataskweyak Cree Nation has developed and is implementing its own Land and Environmental Overview, forming the basis upon which Tataskweyak Cree Nation will decided whether or not to proceed with the project. It is not a done deal. Not only is the Tataskweyak Cree Nation not signing into the project before its social and environmental impacts are assessed as Osborne suggests, it is actively participating in that assessment. it has obtained clear recognition of and respect for aboriginal assessment of the future generation project - a historic development.

5. The momentum that we have gained through these Agreements and the opportunities arising form them have never been achieved in the past. We are looking forwarded to the challenges that lay ahead and the successes that await us if we continue on the path we have chosen.

Tataskweyak Cree nation has offered and continues to offer to meet with other First Nations who wish to know better the path Tataskweyak Cree Nation has chose. We are ready to share the knowledge and information with our brothers and sister.

We respect the right of each First Nation to choose its own path. We must object when we are not extended the same courtesy, particularly with respect to decisions that concern our land, our waterways, our resources and our lives

Sincerely,

Chief Duke Beardy

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