Sheshatshiu youth walk 130 km to protect Gull Island
Percey Montague says Innu leadership must hear the concerns of the youth
Several younger residents of Sheshatshui are taking it upon themselves to have their concerns heard over the proposed hydroelectric project at Gull Island.
"I want our government to treat the youth like they matter. I want my voice to be heard," Percey Montague, 17, told CBC News on Monday.
Montague said he doesn't have faith in leadership to represent his community's concerns, after an agreement in principle was signed between between Hydro-Québec and Innu Nation in late June.
On Monday, Montague began walking the 130 kilometres from Sheshatshiu to Gull Island to raise awareness of his concerns and those of his community.
Joining him are Angel Jourdain, Patrick Jourdain and Mya Pone. The walk is expected to take just over two days.
"My concerns are for the protection of our history and our culture and whatever artifacts may be still out there in the land," Montague said. "If this land gets flooded or developed, we may lose a large part of our history."
The group is walking to join several other members of the community who have been holding up a blockade since Wednesday. The blockade protests Hydro-Québec's preliminary site survey work.
The agreement in principle between Hydro-Quebec and Innu Nation can only be finalized once it is presented to and voted on by the community in September.
Montague said that if the community voted for its ratification, he wants to see the agreement completely renegotiated. He said he would like to see more Innu ownership of the dam or an annual percentage of power that his community would get free of charge.
"I believe that since these projects are taking place on Innu land that we should be getting way more, not just cash," Montague said.
In a statement to CBC News on Thursday, Hydro-Québec spokesperson Caroline Des Rosiers said the company is in the process of establishing a "mechanism for dialogue with members of the community," and hopes to do so in collaboration with the leadership of Innu Nation, in keeping with their customary practices.
"I call this deal a slap in the face," said Jerome Jack, who has been protesting with the blockade.
Jack said the compensation in the agreement does not account for the cultural and environmental damage the development would cause.
To Montague, Gull Island is an important place for his family and his community. His mother has a cabin on the island. Every September, hundreds from communities across the region come together for a gathering and quality time on the land and with each other.
In the lead up to the community's vote in the fall, Montague said he wants his community to think about the lack of response from the Innu leadership to his calls for concern.
"I think this is very disappointing and I think it's really telling of our government's inability to listen to us," he said.
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With files from Regan Burden