'We know nothing': Innu Nation in the dark on Churchill Falls talks

While Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador launched formal negotiations on the future of the Churchill Falls hydroelectric project some 10 months ago, there have so far been no consultations with the Innu Nation.

Former grand chief Peter Penashue says the Innu Nation isn't involved in any discussions at the moment.

"We know nothing," said Penashue.

"You could do this in in the '60s, in the '70s, you know, just totally ignore Aboriginal rights and go ahead and proceed with the project. But in this day and age, I don't think that's going to fly."

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey and Quebec Premier François Legault announced formal talks on the future of the infamous 1969 Churchill Falls contract in February, during a meeting in St. John's.

The contract, allowing Hydro-Québec to purchase 90 per cent of the 5,428 megawatts produced at Churchill Falls at a rock-bottom price, doesn't expire until 2041. But Legault's government, facing an impending electricity shortfall, has signalled its willingness to reopen the deal prematurely — should Newfoundland and Labrador allow further hydroelectric development on the Churchill River.

Penashue said the Innu Nation's support of a new deal on Churchill Falls, constructed on lands traditionally used by the Innu, is not a given. He added, however, that it's necessary and that court challenges and protests will follow if new developments on the Churchill River are announced without the Innu Nation's consent.

On the final day of the House of Assembly's fall session last week, Furey said his and Legault's governments have committed to consultations "in the right way and at the appropriate time."

"We said once we got to the right stage then all Indigenous groups would be consulted," Furey said. "We're not really anywhere close to there just yet."

According to Penashue, the Innu Nation's consent depends first on a compromise over revenues from another hydroelectric project on the Churchill River: the 824-megawatt Muskrat Falls dam.

In 2021, Ottawa and Newfoundland and Labrador restructured the vastly overbudget project's finances, a move that avoided an immediate hike to Newfoundland customers' electricity rates. However, that retooling came at the expense of the Innu Nation, which will lose about $1 billion in expected revenues over 50 years, according to Penashue.

"We say to government … you essentially told the people of Innu Nation your word has no value, you can't keep your word. There's no honour in your signatures. And, you know, a lot of people have been frustrated and disappointed with the behaviour of the province," Penashue said.

Penashue said the Innu Nation also wants to be full participants in talk on the future of the Churchill Falls contract and any future construction projects on the Churchill River. 

Two projects are currently being discussed: upgrades to production at Churchill Falls, which could represent 1,600 megawatts of additional capacity, and an entirely new 2,200-megawatt dam at Gull Island, farther downstream.