Hundreds of people journeyed down the Peace River in solidarity this weekend with one goal in mind-to stop Site C.

 

“It was action packed, a lot of energy here and a lot of fight in this crowd,” says National Campaign Director for the Wilderness Committee Joe Foy.

 

Advocates from environmental, First Nations, Human Rights and more attended the 11th Annual Paddle for the Peace event to celebrate the Peace Valley and speak up against BC Hydro’s Site C dam project which would flood the area.

 

“For all British Columbians this project is a boondoggle that will cost everybody money and at the same time destroy some of the very best agricultural land in British Columbia and at the same time violate treaty rights. So it’s not clean energy, it’s very dirty because it’s based on broken promises,” says Green Party of Canada Leader Elizabeth May.

 

Protestors say this is an important year to make some noise against the project as BC Hydro is already taking action to clear the area for construction.

 

“It’s more important now than ever because the actions BC Hydro are taking of trying to force people off their land, the Boon’s property here, they’ve been told that they need to leave by Christmas time,” says West Moberly First Nations Chief Roland Willson.

 

May made the trip to the valley for her first time and says she wants the federal government to keep their promise of respecting relationships with First Nations by stopping Site C as it infringes upon their Treaty 8 territory.

 

“I’m very concerned about this notion that the BC government wants to take the project past the point of no return. We’re not there yet and I’m very committed to making sure the new federal government, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, that this government is fully committed to a respectful nation to nation relationship with First Nations.”

 

Construction of the almost 9 billion dollar project started last summer and many voiced their objection to the hydroelectric dam saying there are other methods to produce energy and it conflicts with human rights.

 

“The process has failed to respect the constitution and protected treaty rights of Indigenous peoples. That failure is discriminatory, plain and simple. So the process has failed already, it’s not too late to set things right,” says Amnesty International Indigenous Rights Campaigner Craig Benjamin.

 

The battle continues to fight the dam and protestors say it’s crucial for people to write to Prime Minister Trudeau and insist that he does not sign off on federal permits that will continue the project.

 

 “Do not allow the fisheries permits to be signed; do not allow the transportation permits to be signed. If that happens this dam project stops and that’s what needs to happen. So Mister Trudeau needs to receive a lot of letters and the only people he’s going to receive them from is you and me,” says Foy.

 

The West Moberly First Nations will also be doing their part by heading back to court this fall to stop the dam.

 

“We’re in Montreal in September with the federal permits and we’re hoping because of the Enbridge decision that just came out, we should have some good footing now,” says Willson.