I. The Nisichawaysihk Cree Nation at Nelson House, who have an interest in possible future development within the Nelson House Resource Management Area.

The Nisichawaysihk Cree Nation at Nelson House, a signatory to the Northern Flood Agreement, who also signed a 1996 Implementation Agreement giving effect to the Northern Flood Agreement, have appeared before the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, before the St. Paul Area Council of Churches, and before other commissions, tribunals and bodies both in Minnesota and in Wisconsin, to advise, together with Split Lake Cree (Tataskweyak), that they also support hydroelectricity exports from Manitoba to Minnesotans, and in particular, Xcel Energy Inc. The Nisichawaysihk Cree are considering the possibility of a future development at Wuskwatim and Notigi within the Nelson House Resource Management Area.

II. Other First Nations within the Split Lake Resource Management Area

In respect of the development at Gull Rapids, Split Lake Cree (Tataskweyak) have entered into an Agreement with the War Lake First Nation to work cooperatively, and are exploring with Manitoba Hydro the possibility of the involvement of two other First Nations in the Split Lake Resource Management Area, York Factory First Nation (Kitche-Waskahigan) and Fox Lake First Nation (Kinasaso Sipi).

III. Norway House Cree Nation, a signatory to the Northern Flood Agreement

Norway House Cree Nation, a signatory to the Northern Flood Agreement, signed its own Implementation Agreement in 1997. In a paper presented to the 22nd Annual Canadian Studies Conference "Environment and Environmental Justice" in Grainau, Germany, on February 16 - 18, 2001, Chief Ron Evans presented a paper "Impacts Associated with Hydro Electric Development in northern Manitoba, Canada - An Overview and Assessment of the Norway House Cree Nation Master Implementation Agreement." In that paper, Chief Evans stated:

"In effect, we have accepted responsibility for Northern Flood Agreement implementation while continuing to hold the other parties responsible for future development and unknown future adverse effects."

He further stated:

"We believe that as we are healing divisions in our community that were a result of development impacts, we have helped Manitoba Hydro as a corporation find more effective ways of working in partnership with aboriginal people. The willingness of the Cree at Split Lake to explore opportunities for business involvement with Manitoba Hydro in the Keeyask Hydro Electric Project suggest that new relationships between the Cree and developers are possible." (emphasis added)

Further on he stated:

"I am here to state that my people are not opposed to development, and that we do understand the need of modern society for reliable energy supplies. However, we seek a new kind and quality of development that respects the environment and our place in it."

IV. The Council of the North, an Association of the Northern Dioceses of the Anglican Church of Canada

On October 22, 2001, the Council of the North, an association of the northern dioceses of the Anglican Church of Canada, unanimously approved the following motion:

"That the Council of the North express its support for the Tataskweyak Cree Nation of Split Lake in its visioning of a new future of economic partnership in self-management of its land and resources; and encouragement for its journey towards self-determination; social, economic and spiritual healing."

V. Interchurch Inquiry Panel

The Very Reverend Stan Mackay, a member of an Interchurch Inquiry panel investigating the imacts of hydroelectrc development upon the Pimicikimak Cree at Cross Lake, was quoted in the Winnipeg Free Press on Thursday, December 13, 2001 as saying that he:

"... does not believe a moratorium on new dams is necessary given Manitoba Hydro's new approach to working in partnership with affected First Nations."

Helen Norrie, one of the other panelists, agreed.


VI. Pimicikimak Executive Council

Mr. William Osborne, a member of the Pimicikimak Executive council, wrote to the Winnipeg Free Press on May 3, 2002 to express the position that the Pimicikimak Cree are not opposed to development or energy exports, stating:

Mr. David Miswagon, also a member of the Pimicikimak Executive Council, stated in a television interview with the Aboriginal Television Network:

"We're not in the business of providing innacurate information to the public. We want to make a few things clear with respect to the Pimicikimak Cree Nation also known as PCN. First of all we are not opposed to development and we're not opposed to energy exports."