The Inter-Church Task Force on the Churchill River Diversion
Organization profile published 1976

Teixeira, F. Bryan

Publisher:  Inter-Church Task Force on the Churchill River Diversion, Winnipeg, Canada
Year Published:  1976   First Published:  1976
Resource Type:  Organization
Cx Number:  CX18

Task Force formed to assist the Northern Flood Committee.

Abstract:  In 1966 the governments of Canada and Manitoba signed an agreement for the hydro-electric development of the Nelson and Churchill Rivers in Northern Manitoba. An issue arose as soon as it was known that the plan involved raising the water level of Southern Indian Lake and jeopardizing the livelihood and the way of life of the only nearly - self-supporting Indian community in the Province. The present issue has to do with the diversion of the Churchill River into the Nelson River. Although the diversion was part of the plan announced in 1966, its effects on the six Indian Communities along the diversion route only began to be known early in 1974, hardly eighteen months prior to the time the water was to be flowing. In order to protect their treaty lands and traditional hunting grounds from flooding, the Indian communities formed the Northern Flood Committee. The Inter-Church Task Force was formed to assist the Flood Committee in making its case heard. When its first efforts had little effect, the Task Force organized a public hearing, chaired by a retired Chief Justice of Manitoba, which attracted the attention of the media, and may prove to be a model for other privately sponsored hearings on serious public issues.

The Task Force consists of about a dozen concerned members of the Anglican, Mennonite, Roman Catholic and United Churches. They are acting on their own responsibility, but have been able to gain some support from their official bodies, especially in the form of finances.

Subject Headings

• Aboriginal Communities
• Churchill River
• Dams
• Floods/Flooding
• Hydroelectric Power
• Land Stewardship
• Native Peoples
• Nelson River
• Northern Manitoba
• Rivers