Amnesty International calls for halt to Site C, dam threatens B.C. indigenous rights

Amnesty International is calling for a stop work order on British Columbia’s $8.8 billion Site C hydroelectric dam, saying the mega project on the Peace River threatens the human rights of indigenous peoples. The independent human rights advocate released a report Tuesday calling on the federal and provincial governments to immediately suspend or rescind all construction approvals and permits related to the project in northeast B.C. The report, The Point of No Return, also says the project should only proceed on the basis of free, prior and informed consent of all affected indigenous peoples. At least two area First Nations are challenging the project in court. The Amnesty International report stated archeological evidence shows indigenous peoples have lived in the Peace River area for more than 10,000 years and many rely on the valley to hunt, fish, trap, conduct ceremonies and harvest plant medicines...more