Water Co-op issues ultimatum to INAC

Posted By Greg Vandermeulen

Posted 2 months ago

The taps to Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation could be shut off at the end of 2010, if the department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada doesn't step up to the plate.

Pembina Valley Water Co-op CEO Sam Schellenberg said they want INAC to pay the $64,374 in arrears, and either take over paying the monthly bills or guarantee that they will cover any shortfall.

"We can't function this way," Schellenberg said of the debt. "It's unfair to have the Pembina Valley people subsidize their water bill."

Roseau River First Nation is currently under third party management. Meyers, Norris Penny are paying all bills for the reserve since they took over, but have not addressed past debts.

The money that is owed dates back to August, 2008.

This is nothing new for the Pembina Valley Water Co-op. In June of 2008, they turned the taps off because of a $50,000 debt. That money was paid, but only months later, the funds stopped coming again. "We've been through this cycle several times," Schellenberg said. If INAC does not agree to cover the funds, and guarantee future dollars when the reserve comes out of third party management, the Pembina Valley Water Co-op has decided to no longer have them as a customer.

That means they will have water until Dec. 31, 2010.

Schellenberg said that gives INAC and the reserve time to make other arrangements, whether it means building their own water treatment plant, or another option. "We're not holding a gun to their head," he said.

However the water co-op is not all that optimistic that INAC will step up. "INAC did not want to communicate with us," Schellenberg said. "We have tried to engage INAC in discussion." Currently the Public Utilities Board (who have approved PVWC's ultimatum) are attempting to broker the discussion.

INAC spokesperson Jeff Solmundson said they are taking steps to address the debt, but he would not commit to any long term commitment to either pay the first nations water bill, or guarantee it.

"We've asked the third party manager to look into a payment schedule (to cover the outstanding debt)."

Solmundson wouldn't say if INAC has guaranteed a reserve's water bills in the past, nor would he commit to any future arrangement. "Typically a first nation handles its own finances and pays its own bills," he said. Although INAC won't commit to getting involved right now, Solmundson admitted that in the event that PVWC decides to discontinue Roseau as a customer, they would have no choice. "The department would definitely have to work with the first nation," he said, pointing out that water is an essential service, and keeping it flowing would be INAC's responsibility. "It would be up to us to find a solution."

Roseau River First Nation have had their troubles with debts in the past. In 2008, even after the water bill was paid, the reserve still owed close to $400,000 for education and hydro costs.

Manitoba Hydro briefly cut off power to several reserve buildings as a result of money owing. More than $300,000 was owed to Border Land School Division. INAC stepped up in that case covering close to half of the outstanding debt. Currently about $140,000 is still owed to Border Land School Division.

Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation Chief Terrance Nelson is not looking at the issue as just an unpaid water bill.

He said it's all linked to the money the federal government owes them.

"We waited 138 years to be paid for our land," he said.

Nelson criticized the Pembina Valley Water Co-op for getting approval from the Public Utilities Board for the ultimatum, describing it as "just some white people going to a white mans court."

Nelson said they are still waiting for $100 million in promised funds from the federal government as the result of the 1903 surrender when the government took 12 sections of land without their permission. "We should have money in the bank by early spring," he said, saying all their bills will be paid when the federal government coughs up what they owe. He added that PVWC and the municipal members could help by lobbying their MPs to speed the promised payment along. Nelson refused to say exactly why the bill was not paid, instead saying the water belongs to them in the first place. "You're in receipt of stolen property," he said of the land and water in the Pembina Valley. "We should be the ones getting paid."

Nelson said residents would react if the water is cut off. "That's a human rights issue, and if they do that (cut off the water) we have every right to retaliate," he said. "You cut off our water, see how angry we get."

Nelson wouldn't say what he meant by retaliation. "We have never taken violence against the white people," he said. "You can bet there would be one hell of a lot of angry people..."