Dam project's effect on Bay a concern to Inuit

A proposed hydro-electric development in northern Quebec may interfere with traditional lifestyles, Inuit from Nunavut and Nunavik told a hearing into the project on Wednesday in Montreal.

Inuit from Nunavik and the Belcher Islands say they fear the EM1A-Rupert Diversion project will pump even more fresh water into the north part of James Bay, changing salt concentrations in the bay and disrupting ice patterns.

They fear that could damage hunting grounds, and fish and wildlife stocks. They are also worried about mercury and other contaminants in their food.

• OFFICIAL SITE: Eastmain-1-A Powerhouse and Rupert Diversion

"We don't farm animals, we hunt. That's our way of life. So whenever there's a contaminant or a cumulative effect, it's already affecting my life," said Peter Kattuq, an Inuit leader from Sanikiluaq.

"I believe that I was created to the Earth, to use the environment and the animals wisely, that's my belief."

The EM1A and Rupert diversion project, Hydro Quebec's largest project this decade, would redirect most of the Rupert River into the Eastmain Reservoir and onward into the La Grande hydro complex, farther north. It would mean building four dams and two powerhouses, flooding approximately 400 square kilometres.

Representatives of the Nunavut Hudson Bay Inter-Agency Working Group, or NTK, said they wanted the committee reviewing the project to make sure the impacts are minimized.

They recommended that money be set aside to monitor changes to the currents, ice, and sea life in Hudson Bay.

"For almost 40 years the message the people of Belcher Islands and Sanikiluaq have been receiving from authorities is that the La Grande complex will have no effect beyond the estuaries," said Lucassie Arragutarnaq, who spoke for NTK at the hearing.

"We know from our traditional knowledge research, that message is no longer valid. Therefore the question of the hamlet council, hunters and ordinary people of Sanikiluaq is, what are authorities going to do about it?"

The hearings continue until June. The review committee will make its recommendations in September.