The Southern Chiefs’ Organization says it’s taking Manitoba Hydro and the provincial government to court in a Charter challenge to have Lake Winnipeg given all the rights and protections of a living entity.
“Today, we are making history,” Grand Chief Jerry Daniels said at a news conference Thursday morning.
“We’re not saying this is going to solve everything, but we think this is going to be a good start to changing the way people think about the way the lake’s governed.”
A statement of claim filed Thursday in the Manitoba Court of King’s Bench with assistance from the Public Interest Law Centre alleges the way the Manitoba government and Manitoba Hydro have artificially controlled the water levels and outflow of Lake Winnipeg for decades has been “completely negligent” and had “dire” effects on the lake, Daniels said.
A few stats for reference …
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phosphorous feeds the growth of blue-green algae, which can choke out animal life by reducing oxygen. It also releases toxins that can cause illness and even death in animals and humans. Source
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Minnesota and North Dakota contribute approximately 60% of the phospherous loads in Lake Winnipeg (from the flow of the Red River) Source
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blue-green algae blooms on Lake Winnipeg have become so large they can be seen from space Source
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While this no doubt could have unforeseen legal consequences, I like the attitude of possibly recognizing the rich aboriginal history in at least parts of mother earth as a person as a means to practice good environmental stewardship.
