Building Northern Manitoba right

I had the pleasure of attending the recent celebrations welcoming grain shipments back to the Port of Churchill, alongside business leaders, port workers, community members and government partners. We find ourselves at an important and pivotal moment and there is a lot of optimism about Northern Manitoba.

Whether it’s the Port of Churchill Plus, all-weather roads and trade corridors, new mines and exploration, a transmission line to Nunavut or billions going into modernizing our hydro-electric systems, one thing is clear: Northern Manitoba needs to be prepared for a potential boom in development.

Now more than ever, Canada and Manitoba have to get this right.

(P)artnership requires unfinished commitments to be resolved. That means Canada resolving our outstanding claims so that we can finally secure the land base that our Nation has been seeking for nearly 80 years.

Prime Minister Carney and Canada’s premiers have met with some of the world’s largest investors to discuss nation-building projects that will shape our country’s future.

First Nations are watching closely.

If we are going to build the North, we must build it together in full and meaningful partnership and in a way that protects both the environment and the social well-being of our communities.

For most Manitobans, these projects are lines on a map.

But for Northern communities, including those of us who call Fox Lake Cree Nation home, they are in our backyard.

The Hudson’s Bay Rail Line passes right alongside our band offices in Bird and Gillam. Proposed transportation and energy corridors to Churchill and Nunavut would begin in the heart of our traditional territory.

Manitoba Hydro’s modernization plans start with upgrades to transmission systems right next door to our community.

And there is more and more talk about reviving Conawapa — right where we launch our fishing boats.

This moment echoes another time in Fox Lake’s history.

Located in the heart of the hydroelectric system that has powered our province for generations, we know what it means to be at the center of major development.

We have lived that history before and the benefits enjoyed by southerners came at a profound and lasting cost to our northern First Nation communities.

Our people were abused and displaced.

Our lands were fundamentally changed.

Promises were made and never fulfilled.

Canada has never provided the full secure reserve land base promised under Treaty. Instead, we watched our land be given away to exploit the hydroelectric potential of our territory.

Canada still holds outstanding obligations for its role in the destruction of our lands and way of life.

As we once again we find ourselves at the centre of major development, this raises an important question: what happens when communities are asked to support the next wave of development while still living with the unfinished business of the past?

The answer begins with land.

Land shapes nearly every conversation we have about our future. It determines whether houses can be built so that families can return home, whether businesses can be built or expanded — all the things needed to have sustainable northern communities and a strong northern workforce.

Our Nation is ready to play our part. From partnerships on the Keeyask Generating Station and the Keewatinohk Converter Station, to transportation infrastructure, First Nations have shown that we are capable partners in development.

But partnership requires unfinished commitments to be resolved. That means Canada resolving our outstanding claims so that we can finally secure the land base that our Nation has been seeking for nearly 80 years.

First Nations are ready to help build Northern Manitoba’s future, but our communities will not allow the painful history of major development that we experienced to be repeated.

To advance meaningful partnerships on the major opportunities ahead, Canada must first honour its commitments from the past.

Without meaningful action, the opportunities being celebrated today risk remaining out of reach.

Morris Beardy is Okimakan (chief) of the Fox Lake Cree Nation.