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 The Churchill River Diversion (CRD), constructed in the 1970s, had a great impact on our First Nation because the water level changes and flooding it caused affected our hunting, fishing, trapping and sacred sites. At that time, we could not prevent the massive CRD from going ahead and did not foresee the resulting changes to our environment and way of life.
In those days, we had considerably fewer negotiating skills and resources. There was no duty to consult, and governments and those developing natural resources took very few steps to consult with us.
Fortunately, Cree People are strong, resilient and adaptable. We realized after 30 years of struggle for proper compensation, and healing, that we needed to look ahead and not back. So in 1996, after hard, careful negotiation we signed the Northern Flood Implementation Agreement with Manitoba, Canada and Manitoba Hydro.
 One important feature of the 1996 Agreement is the process for future development. If Manitoba Hydro wants to build new projects that may affect NCN, it has to finalize compensation arrangements with NCN before it can build.
What happened 40 years ago cannot happen now, because now we have recognized, constitutionally protected rights and self-government. We also have a number of newer agreements in place that give us the power and the tools to negotiate and determine the use of our natural resources to benefit our First Nation.
More – A Cooperative Approach
Bird's Eye View of Artist's Rendering of Wuskwatim Generating Station
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