Lac Seul First Nation continues to demand action from the Crown to address an ongoing issue of its eroding sacred ancestral burial sites along the shores of Lac Seul.
Officials say erosion began with the illegal flooding of the reserve and traditional lands in 1929 when the Ear Falls Dam was built to supply hydroelectric power to Ontario and Manitoba.
They stress no legal authorization was ever obtained for the flooding of the land.
Officials say community members have repeatedly faced the emotional burden of reburying eroded remains and witnessing destruction of their burial sites for over 90 years.
The First Nation has been seeking assistance to resolve the issue but they say the provincial and federal governments have not taken responsibility or offered any meaningful support.
Most recently, the First Nation sought help from Canada in 2006 and 2011, but the government failed to respond.
Chief Derek Maud says for over 90 years, this issue has been ignored by Canada, Ontario and Manitoba and it continues to be ignored.
Maud says the illegal flooding of their land was horrific enough, and the continued uncovering of ancestral remains is an on-going and appalling reminder.
He adds if the Crown is sincere about reconciliation with First Nations and honouring the Treaty relationship, it must take action immediately.
“The First Nation finds it disappointing and unacceptable that Canada has not acknowledged or addressed this outstanding grievance, particularly when Canada caused and had known about the grievance for almost a century. Lac Seul First Nation’s Chief and Council are again calling on Canada, Ontario, and Manitoba to come forward to work with the First Nation to develop an immediate shoreline and gravesite protection strategy.”
The Council says it has confirmed that further burial sites are still at immediate risk of exposure and that further community suffering can be avoided if the Crown fulfills its duty to First Nations and swiftly work with the community to implement a lasting solution.
In 1977, Chief Ningewance, a former Chief of Lac Seul First Nation, presented the gravesite erosion issue publicly before the Royal Commission on the Northern Environment.
He stated “Everyday, of every month, for the past few years, the remains of my forefathers have been washing up from their sacred burial grounds. There they sit on the edge of our lake, disturbed from what was to have been their eternal resting place. The remains act as a constant reminder that Indians pay a harsh price when the white man an the white man’s power visit the land of my people. We were never given full compensation for the flooding. And were never given the resources to move our ancestors’ graves and save them from a watery destruction. None of us understood that our sacred burial grounds would be mangled and destroyed. We were never told.”
