Prime Minister Justin Trudeau: We call on you to stop the Site C dam project

Over 100 years ago, the Canadian government signed a treaty, promising to protect the way of life of Indigenous peoples in the region. Prime Minister Trudeau, please don’t break that promise.

The Site C dam is not just another resource development project. It is one of the largest such projects currently underway in Canada. If built, this huge
hydroelectric project will drown over 80km of the Peace River Valley, destroying lands vital to Indigenous hunting and way of life , harm rare plants and other biodiversity, kill countless animals
and destroy their habitats, make fishing unsafe for at least a generation and submerge burial grounds and other crucial cultural and historical sites.

For First Nations such as West Moberly and Prophet River, which continue to challenge the project in court, flooding the Peace Valley would take away one of the last remaining places where they can still practice their cultures and traditions. In other words, it would violate fundamental rights protected by Treaty 8, the Canadian Constitution, and international human rights law.

We urge that construction of the Site C dam be
halted, that all permits be rescinded, and that the previous government’s approval of this project be re‐examined .
It is crucial that the federal and provincial governments work collaboratively with the Indigenous peoples of the region to reach common agreement on a long‐term plan to protect Indigenous land use in the Peace Valley.

The people of Treaty 8 have said no to Site C. Any government that is truly committed to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, to respecting human rights, and to promoting truly clean energy should listen.