Blog Posts

Portrayal of Thomas Monias created by Gerald Kuehl Thomas (Tommy) Monias PIMICIKAMAK CREE NATION (CROSS LAKE)(1953-2025) Thomas Monias was raised by his great-grandmother Matilda, also known as Paypaysahpun, a medicine woman and midwife. The woman wasn’t content with sedentary living in Cross Lake, according to Thomas, since in her words, “there is Nitaski everywhere,” meaning that their land extended far beyond the borders of the community. Matilda vowed to live according to Kisamanto’s (the Almighty God’s) laws, and “she told many stories—of legends and our people’s ceremonies,” he added. These teachings would prove to have a huge influence on the boy. Thomas married Rita Ross in 1975. She had grown up in Pimicikamak and witnessed firsthand how corporate policies and the government had devastated Northern Manitoba. She pursued university studies, hoping formal education would help her better grasp the inner workings of these developments, and better oppose them. Rita has...Continue Reading

Portrayal of Gerald McKay created by Gerald Kuehl Gerald McKay MISIPAWISTIK CREE NATION (GRAND RAPIDS) (1955–2025) “When our ‘Grand Rapids’ was silenced by the hydro dam, we became the town that lost its name.” Life was very good for those living in this quiet fishing village of five hundred—up until 1960. “We wintered in Grand Rapids because my dad and many other families trapped at Summerberry Marsh in February,” recollected Gerald McKay. “During summer we stayed at a fishing camp at the south end of Lake Winnipeg, then returned to Grand Rapids. Everybody knew everyone in the community.” Gerald was five years old when Provincial Highway 6 reached town. Thousands of migrant workers arrived to build the hydro dam, bringing along with them aberrant behaviour and chaos. Many lived in the bush nearby and leeched off the community, unable to find jobs. Gerald recalled it was especially hard for his...Continue Reading

Screened at Ki Ta Ski Naw international gathering, Winnipeg Manitoba November 8 2019.Continue Reading

Disaster Capitalism, Settler Colonialism, and Indigenous Environmental Justice in the Covid-19 Pandemic By Alexandra Curran, Master’s thesis Alex Curran is a recent Master of Environment graduate from the University of Manitoba. Her passions include environmental justice and the role of storytelling and strength-based perspectives in decolonial research, which is reflected in her master’s thesis. As a settler researcher, she is dedicated to continuously learning more about working in good ways with Indigenous communities and fostering relationships of kindness and respect. Alex successfully defended her thesis, Disaster Capitalism, Settler Colonialism, and Indigenous Environmental Justice in the COVID-19 Pandemic in December 2024. Thesis Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic was experienced by nearly every person around the world. However, while the pandemic was borne by everyone, the weight of everyone’s burden was not equal and was heavily influenced by preexisting inequalities and harmful social structures. As they have in the past, Indigenous peoples in Canada, as...Continue Reading

Leslie Dysart, the CEO of the Community Association of South Indian Lake (CASIL), has been a vocal critic of Manitoba Hydro’s operations and their impact on the environment and the South Indian Lake community. In a series of testimonies and public statements, Dysart has highlighted the challenges faced by the community and the broader environmental concerns resulting from Manitoba Hydro’s activities. This video provides a comprehensive overview of Dysart’s statements, the questions raised by senators, and his responses to these inquiries.Continue Reading

In this video, we hear from members of the Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba, Canada, who are speaking out about the devastating effects of extreme erosion in Lake Winnipeg. The erosion is a result of the construction of Eight Mile and Two Mile channels by Manitoba Hydro in the 1970s, which were designed to increase the flow of water from the lake into hydroelectric generating systems. The channels were dug in soft soils and peat, leading to continuing erosion that negatively impacts the treaty rights of fishing and trapping for the First Nation, as well as the local economy, water navigation, and access to traditional lands. Chief Larson Anderson and other members of the Norway House Cree Nation speak about the severe impacts of the erosion on fish habitat, including the creation of islands from sediment, and how it has affected their ability to exercise traditional activities. Commercial fisherman,...Continue Reading

In this video, we hear from members of the Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba, Canada, who are speaking out about the devastating effects of extreme erosion in Lake Winnipeg. The erosion is a result of the construction of Eight Mile and Two Mile channels by Manitoba Hydro in the 1970s, which were designed to increase the flow of water from the lake into hydroelectric generating systems. The channels were dug in soft soils and peat, leading to continuing erosion that negatively impacts the treaty rights of fishing and trapping for the First Nation, as well as the local economy, water navigation, and access to traditional lands. Chief Larson Anderson and other members of the Norway House Cree Nation speak about the severe impacts of the erosion on fish habitat, including the creation of islands from sediment, and how it has affected their ability to exercise traditional activities. Commercial fisherman,...Continue Reading

In this video, you will see how Manitoba Hydro’s Churchill River Diversion project has harmed the community of South Indian Lake and its environment. The project, which started in 1976, diverts water from the Churchill River southward to increase power generation at the Nelson River dams. The video shows how Manitoba Hydro failed to lower the water levels of South Indian Lake in 2017, despite knowing that a record-breaking snowfall would cause a massive runoff and flooding in spring. The result was unprecedented erosion and damage to the community’s roads, docks, fish plant, and shorelines. The damage occurred while there was still ice on the lake, which means more destruction is expected once the ice melts completely and the wind and waves increase. The video features interviews with Les Dysart who shares his frustration and anger with Manitoba Hydro’s lack of communication and consultation with them. He accuses Manitoba Hydro...Continue Reading