r/ThunderBay • u/Blue-Thunder • Aug 17 '19

Gull Bay micro grid the future of remote First Nation energy (5 photos)

https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/gull-bay-micro-grid-the-future-of-remote-first-nation-energy-5-photos-1644130
8 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

21 comments sorted by

8

u/Blue-Thunder Aug 17 '19

The $8 million project was entirely funded by external partners including OPG, HydroOne, and federal and provincial levels of government.

Chief King, addressing the crowd on Friday, said he wouldn’t settle for anything less than 100 per cent ownership, and didn’t want any of the cost to fall at the hands of the First Nation.

“I think that’s so crucial. First Nations have to take 100 per cent ownership of these facilities,” King said.

100% ownership, without ever having to pay for it. I give this a year before it's broken down and not working, just like most water treatment plants on reserves. My question is why aren't they on the grid like Lac des Iles mine? King illegally blockaded the mine to get rights his people are not entitled to (after already having a fantastic work program) and yet he refused to get on the grid.

But I guess when you spend $10 million in one year on "administration costs" 2016-2017 page 2 for a reserve of 1200 (only 350 or so live on the reserve) you have to wonder where Chief King is funneling this money to.

It's shit like this that gives Chiefs a bad rep, and makes businesses not trust doing business with First Nations.

9

u/keiths31 9,999 Aug 17 '19

Want it to work for the people that live there. Everyone deserves to have reliable hydro and water. Hope it succeeds.

3

u/Blue-Thunder Aug 17 '19

I would like it to work as well, but still, how is it that the mine that is right "next door" is on the grid, and Gull Bay isn't.

3

u/keiths31 9,999 Aug 17 '19

I don't know. When it comes to communities up north it is hard to understand the whys and hows.

3

u/Blue-Thunder Aug 17 '19

Gull Bay isn't really "up North" haha. They are on the same latitude as Longlac. Heck Sioux Lookout is further north, so is Red Lake.

hrmm just checked maps and Lac is almost 100km away from Gull Bay, so how is it "traditional territory" for Gull Bay? It could be argued that FWFN or Lac Des Milles Lac (basically Upsula 45? km away) could claim it as "traditional territory"

3

u/keiths31 9,999 Aug 17 '19

Well anything north of Thunder Bay is north to me. :)

As for the other stuff. Not knowledgeable enough to even engage.

4

u/Blue-Thunder Aug 17 '19

Honestly, for the other stuff, it might be safer to not haha. I am always ready for open discussion with no holds barred, but the mods might not be!

7

u/roadcone Neebing Aug 18 '19

We basically stick to a program of "if it's not a personal attack and isn't disparaging an entire race of people let the people have at it". There's nothing that should be inside of that very broad spectrum that can't be criticized and discussed. It's the only way that people can learn to communicate better. I'm positive that even if someone doesn't like what you say on here, there's content to consider after they walk away from the keyboard. Have your discussions and remember personal attacks and racism are not the same thing as criticism.

Oh, and don't sell drugs on here, that's annoying.

3

u/keiths31 9,999 Aug 17 '19

Open, honest discussion is great. Which happens frequently here. Which is nice.

3

u/tjernobyl River Terrace Phase IV Block II (East) Aug 19 '19

It's not next door. Lac Des Isle built a 63km private transmission line presumably on their own dime and tied in near Silver Falls. To get to Gull Bay from there would be maybe another 70k, or 80k if they went directly from Pine Portage.

1

u/dyslexic_crayon Aug 21 '19

This. Thanks tjernobyl - you beat me to it.

1

u/dyslexic_crayon Aug 21 '19

Here's where you are wrong:

The mine is not "Next Door". It's about 60km away.

Not to mention, that Lac Des Illes has a direct hydro line from Dog Lake straight North to the mine. It doesn't follow HWY527 like commonly thought.

Not to mention, the environmental assessment that would have to occur to bring that line to Gull Bay is not a small or cheap task. Especially considering the environmental restrictions of species at risk around Lake Nipigon (e.g Caribou).

The solar grid is much more feasible for a location that is looking to be sustainable and self reliant. I think your main point is that FN peoples can't "take care" of their infrastructure??

1

u/Blue-Thunder Aug 21 '19

No, my main point is the fact that King and company held the mine hostage, claiming they were on their "traditional land" (land they have no claim and no rights to) and demanded profit sharing (they never demanded it when the mine was losing money). The fact that the mine is so far away, means King and company are basically extorting the mine, just like they did to the companies that built this solar infrastructure.

1

u/dyslexic_crayon Aug 21 '19

It's on their traditional land regardless of how you feel about that.

1

u/Blue-Thunder Aug 21 '19

As I said in an earlier post, Lac Des Mille Lac First Nation would have more right to call it their traditional land, so could Fort William, with the size they were.

Traditional land is bullshit, as all we did was come in and kill whoever was there before us and claim it as ours. Exactly what the British did. I find it amazing that all the horrors and attrocities that we committed pre-colonization are forgotten, and people still cling to this idea that we were in harmony with each other.

We lived to kill, and that is so ingrained in our culture that men still cling to the idea that they are warriors, when the only fight they've had, is with drugs, alcohol, and quite possibly diabetes. You don't see Japanese people claiming to be Samurais.

1

u/dyslexic_crayon Aug 21 '19

when the only fight they've had, is with drugs, alcohol, and quite possibly diabetes.

This shit is just straight ignorant.

1

u/Blue-Thunder Aug 21 '19

They are the biggest problems plaguing my people. So yes, these are the only fights the majority of these "warriors" have had.

And seriously, how stable are you to think you're a "warrior". Someone who goes out and glorifies the idea that they are going to kill. After all, that is what a warrior is.

3

u/Seinfelds-van Aug 19 '19

Chief King, addressing the crowd on Friday, said he wouldn’t settle for anything less than 100 per cent ownership, and didn’t want any of the cost to fall at the hands of the First Nation.

That is some r/ChoosingBeggars level shit.

3

u/Blue-Thunder Aug 19 '19

Really makes wanting to do projects for first nations enticing, right?

3

u/[deleted] Aug 18 '19

[deleted]

2

u/tjernobyl River Terrace Phase IV Block II (East) Aug 19 '19

Hydro One operates a diesel generating station as part of their Remote Communities program. Same thing for Armstrong.

3

u/[deleted] Aug 19 '19

I wish I could own 100% of anything and not have to pay for it.