Province apologizes to Wabigoon Lake for dam flooding

Wabigoon Lake received an official apology on Aug. 25 from Aboriginal Affairs Minister Kathleen Wynne for past flooding of reserve land.
“The settlement has been a long time coming and we the community appreciate the due diligence by those parties/individuals who were involved throughout the negotiation process,” said Wabigoon Lake Chief Ruben Cantin Sr. “This settlement will give Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation the opportunity to plan for the future and to make an investment in our youth for a better future.”
The apology was held at the community’s powwow grounds, where traditional ceremonies were conducted in the presence of Wynne, Grand Council Treaty #3 Grand Chief Warren White, Cantin and other dignitaries and community members.
Wynne said the ceremony was an important opportunity to bring the sentiment of the government to Wabigoon Lake.
“I wanted to express how pleased we are to work in partnership with the First Nation, and to apologize for decisions that were made in the past that were not good decisions for the First Nation,” Wynne said.
Wynne added that she believes the relationship between the government and First Nations is getting back to the partnership expressed in the treaties.
“For the last 60 to 100 years, that partnership conversation has not been there,” Wynne said. “The way decisions were imposed on people is not the way it should work. I’m trying with every fibre of my being to prevent that from happening again.”
Wabigoon Lake’s flood claim was filed over the 1897 construction of a provincially--approved dam without the community’s consent and its further reconstruction in 1912 for power generation. The dam caused water levels to rise and flood almost 20 per cent of the reserve.
The flooding drowned the community’s historic village site, washed graves into the lake and caused loss of lands and valuable resources.
The community received $27 million in financial compensation after settling the century-old flood claim with Ontario for past and ongoing flooding of the community’s shoreline.
Cantin said 96 per cent of the community voted in favour of the settlement during a February 17 vote.
“Given the historic event that happened over 100 years ago, I don’t think people wanted to wait anymore,” Cantin said. “There was this offer and our advisors, our negotiators, our lawyers said that’s a good offer because it’s more than what other communities have been offered for such claims.”
The flood claim monies were invested into a trust fund for the community’s future.
“If we are going to be successful in the future, investments have to be made for the youth, especially in the area of education,” Cantin said. “We’re trying to get the biggest bang for our dollar for the future.”
The community has not reached a settlement with the federal government over the flooding.