I have demonstrated my support on the development of wind power in Eeyou Istchee by using my access to the Quebec political leadership. We also made a submission to the Quebec Parliamentary Commission of the Energy Sector in Quebec and have recently asked for an amendment to the draft Regulation Respecting the Second Block of Wind Energy in order to provide a special allocation of the Cree Nation.

Last winter there was an offer from Quebec to give a preferential arrangement with the Cree Nation on the development of wind power. Because the Crees have not taken a consistent position the offer is questionable at this time. Quebec prefers a Cree Nation approach rather than a community approach.

I support all alternative energy and conservation measures that reduce pressure on our environment, land and culture.

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COMMENTS OF THE GRAND COUNCIL OF THE CREES (EEYOU ITSCHEE)/
CREE REGIONAL AUTHORITY 
ON THE DRAFT REGULATION RESPECTING 
THE SECOND BLOCK OF WIND ENERGY 
September 8, 2005

On April 7, 2005, the Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Itschee)/Cree Regional Authority (“GCC(EI)/CRA”) submitted a brief to the Québec Parliamentary Commission of the Energy Sector in Québec – Context, Issues and Questions. In its brief the GCC(EI)/CRA raised the fact that the vision of successive governments that dominated the last 30 years development in our traditional territory, the Eeyou Istchee, was one which consisted of developing massive hydroelectric projects. As stated in our brief, each time a large-scale hydroelectric project is developed on our territories, a parcel of our lands, the lands on which we exercise our traditional activities, disappears or is affected. Moreover, the industrial development on our land had only benefited others, who lived mostly in the South.

In 2002, in signing La Paix des Braves, Québec recognized the Crees as an essential partner in the development of the Eeyou Istchee Territory and undertook to include us in the development of our land. In regard to the development of natural resources in Eeyou Istchee, the Cree Nation has always stated that any energy project proposed on our land must respect the rights of the Crees and be based on the principle of sustainable development. In this regard, the Cree Nation has always favored the diversification of energy sources and, among others, the development of wind power.

The Eeyou Itschee is recognized as one of the best, if it not the best, exploitable wind energy potential area in the Québec territory. In this regard, several Cree communities, in collaboration with various credible partners, have developed reliable wind energy proposal projects.

In the spirit of the La Paix des Braves Agreement, the GCC(EI)/CRA intends to ensure that the Eeyou Itschee is targeted as a prime site for the production of the second block of wind energy and that the Cree shall obtain a substantial share of the wind energy contracts.

Therefore, the GCC(EI)/CRA require that the draft Regulation Respecting the Second Block of Wind Energy be amended in order to provide for a specific allocation for the Cree Nation of a capacity of at least 1000 MW.

Meegwetch