Amnesty International says all work on a controversial hydroelectric dam project in northeastern British Columbia should shut down immediately and proceed only if all affected indigenous peoples give their consent.
In a report entitled “The Point of No Return,” Amnesty says the multi-million-dollar Site C dam in the Peace River area threatens the rights of indigenous people in the area.
The Site C dam project would flood a valley 77 kilometres long and has been fiercely opposed by many, including First Nations, environmentalists and non-indigenous ranchers.
Several lawsuits to stop construction of the $9-billion project are currently in the courts.
Amnesty says indigenous peoples have lived in the Peace River area for more than 10-thousand years and many rely on the valley to hunt, fish, trap, conduct ceremonies and harvest plant medicines.
The valley also includes First Nations heritage sites.
Site C supporters say it will generate 10,000 jobs and boost B.C. Hydro’s energy supply by eight per cent, enough to power about 450,000 homes a year.
B.C. Hydro says is has been consulting with area First Nations about the project since 2007.
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