1% CRee mac-ion 2 MANITOBA mm 2.TELEPHONE: (204)627-7100 ADMIN ms not: (?HlFl?h?i [ll-?Hflt April 21? 2015 Minister of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Room 344 Legislative Building 450 Broadway Winnipeg, Manitoba ,2 a 3" ~33 0V3 rags} 5.31;; ii "at; 1E3Dear Minister Robinson? - a" .7 R- Re: Corresponden?Ce April 17 2015 PawasawThank you?tgr?yot?lr most resp a: ove captio?npda ,dras part of follow-up to?gurfmeeting'held 2015. Commendation-on econog?f'pra streng . *both} clgneyyll? e51 and?grgeclatedf?been on fronts treat: what grounds?le coidjl; l?eaf?ler?hirggi the"righ"ts and inter?: wehaiaasedeatourea?ftiibie?r? Lii?ihe'd by both Manitoba and Mai-1 itob?a?Hydro in ill, .. a. - it ?5 iatliislqli bashed by ?ji?tijyticfirii Abra-982 is sip ufgm em bership H, ?ik safer . I?gf?i?n? ale" to meet with Pr?r'hijeg'r: at during Our meeting that we consi'a'E??ed?iggn??iaighgi as price.? Durlng the course of our coh?i?igfsation witF?ityou We same issue and clearly understood sup??or?tz?irbul?dgbe given "to we, OCN, would?su?bort Premier Selinger in the election process. As aboutf?lgcgi?hbur. As a government the honour of the Crown seems to it is necessary for political gain. OCN no longer believes there Crown given the failure to honour our Aboriginal and Treaty Rights through accommodation measures as is legally sanctioned under Section 35. be.? .r .- a, it"sif'su Mr. Minister, weg?satcdown roth?i?s??tb'?pt?er 3.. 19 Tad opportunity .-- As the Minister responsible for Manitoba Hydro you had an opportunity to right the wrongs of past practices by Manitoba Hydro that have deprived northern First Nations of a rightful benefit NEKANooritmeK - Minister Eric Robinson 21 April 201 Page 2 and opportunity arising from hydroelectric developments. You confirmed this during the course of our meetings, more specifically February 19th, 2015. We at OCN are not prepared to stand by as a Spectator in our territories expected to eat crumbs while non?Aboriginal, non? rights holders gorge on the economic benefit your government and Manitoba Hydro have happliiy handed tothern. Manitoba has recognized OCN lands and traditional territories by way of formal agreement through a Memorandum of Understanding, a recently renewed Joint Management Agreement and a Relationship Agreement with Manitoba Hydro. We note with particular interest the recent signing of a trade agreement with South Korea which our partner Samyoung is originally from. What substance can South Korea expect given the conduct of Manitoba with its First Nations; seems non-committal and rhetorical under the circumstances. Mr. Minister, Manitoba has failed to ensure that our Aboriginal and Treaty Rights are protected; Pawasaw at best was a minimum effort to afford rightful accommodation given the recognition of the infringement by the Province of Manitoba arising from Bipole Ill. Mr. Minister, OCN has shown every consideration for honour and respect in our dealings with the Province and Manitoba Hydro. OCN has been shown instead that our rights are nothing but political fodder for support on issues not even related to our rights under Treaty and existing legislation. Given the failure on the part of the government to uphold our rights and interests we will be using any and all means necessary to ensure that the Bipole Ill does not cross OCN traditional territories without both Manitoba and Manitoba Hydro knowing that we do not take kindly to having our rights trampled. OCN is not prepared to accept Manitoba Hydro?s relegation of OCN as collateral damage in its pursuit for economic gain. We now stand with the force necessary to bring the government and Manitoba Hydro to a halt. Chief Michael G. Constant Sincerely cc: Council Premier Greg Sellnger Scott Thomson, Manitoba Hydro Grand Chief Derek Nepina k, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Joan Niquanicappo, General Manager File MINISTER OF ABORIGINAL AND NORTHERN AFFAIRS MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR COMMUNITIES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND Room 344 Legislative Building Winnipeg, MB RBC 0V8 CANADA an at its Chief Michael Constant Opaskwayak Cree Nation Box 10880 Opaskwayak MB ROB 2J0 Dear Chief Constant: I am in receipt of a letter, Signed on your behalf on April 21, 2015. As this letter was net Signed by you, I do want to ensure that you are fully aware of and in agreement with its contents, especially as it contains several allegations which do not accurately re?ect conversations that you and I had two months ago at OCN. As you know, I was in OCN in February to attend a number of meetings and events 7 including the Signing of the 20 year Natural Resources Co?Management Agreement with OCN, attending the Boreal Summit, the Manitoba Trappers Festival, and meeting with The Pas Industry Attraction Committee to discuss the Canada Goose project. We had the opportunity to meet at that time to discuss several issues, including the Pawasaw Joint _Venture?s desire to bid on work related to Manitoba Hydro?s Bipole 111 project. Since then you have written to me on March 10th, and the Premier on March 26th, regarding this work. A reply to'these letters was sent to your attention on April 17th. Additionally we met regarding the submission on April 15th. I have always enjoyed working with the leadership at OCN, and remain committed to working with you and your community on a Wide variety of social and economic matters. I am, however, disappointed with and troubled by the correspondence of April 21, 2015, which makes several inaccurate statements and allegations that I can only assume are motivated by disappointment related to the Pawasaw Joint Venture?s unsuccessful Request for Pre? quali?cation (RFPQ) submission to ManitOba 'While I can understand this disappointment, I am nevertheless alarmed by the timing and content of the allegations articulated in your letter. I ?nd it distressing that such accusations are now suddenly surfacing two months after?our February discussion, especially as they in no way re?ect the content of .our previous correspondence and meetings, and seem to be fabricated to apply political pressure on government to intercede in an impartial Manitoba Hydro RFPQ process. I am disappointed at my honour being questioned about this totally independent decision, -2- It needs to be emphasized that Manitoba Hydro purchasing evaluation processes, including the Bipole Transmission Project, are conducted by Manitoba Hydro alone and are wholly independent of Government. As has been stated in meetings by senior Manitoba Hydro of?cials with yourself, Band of?cials and representatives of the Pawasaw Joint Venture (JV) including your partner (Samyoung Corporation), Manitoba Hydro objectively carries out its evaluation processes in accordance with established evaluation criteria. It is my understanding from Manitoba Hydro that Pawasaw?s RFPQ submission was given full and reasonable consideration but did not meet several critical technical background and experience requirements. I also understand that this was communicated to you by Hydro President and CEO Scott Thomson along with other Manitoba Hydro of?cials when they met with you and other OCN representatives on March 13th and 20th regarding the submission. As such, the Pawasaw will not be eligible for Manitoba Hydro?s Request for Proposals (RPF) on the Bipole which is expected to be issued to pre?quali?ed bidders later this month. You will recall that Hydro signed a Bipole Community Development Initiative program with OCN, along with the 50 year OCN/Hydro Relationship Agreement, this past December. These agreements provide long term funding from Manitoba?Hydro to the First Nation. Should you require further information or clari?cation on any of these matters, please feel free to be in contact with my of?ce. Our commitment to work with OCN on a wide variety of economic development projects remains. Sincerely, Minister 0. The Honourable Greg Selinger, Premier of Manitoba Mr. Scott Thomson, Manitoba Hydro Opaskwayak Cree Nation Council Grand Chief Derek Nepinak, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Ms Joan Niquanicappo, General Manager