More on Bow Lake Wind Project north of city

SooToday.com has received the following letter from Alexandra Syrette, Batchewana First Nation's communication co-ordinator:

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Letter to the editor: Response to Wind Concerns Ontario regarding responsible wind power development, March 11, 2013
 
Last week the SooToday.com printed a press release issued by Wind Concerns Ontario (WiCON) and Save Our Algoma Region (SOAR) raising questions about regional cultural heritage and our proposed Bow Lake Wind Project, located 80 km northwest of Sault Ste. Marie.

Unfortunately, WiCON failed to even acknowledge the research that has been completed over the past five years investigating the cultural and heritage aspects of our project site.
 
Since inception, understanding and addressing potential environmental, social and cultural effects has been the foundation of our approach towards development of the Bow Lake Wind Project.

The partnership formed between Bow Lake Wind and the Batchewana First Nation to develop this project could not have been achieved were it not for a fundamental respect for the history, culture, and values of the area.
 
For example, we undertook a Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment (CHIA), as well as a Tourism Impact Assessment, to understand potential effects on local values, resources, and businesses. 

The CHIA considered multiple cultural heritage values in the area, including Aboriginal and industrial histories, and Group of Seven painted vistas. 

Experts in the field of art history gathered information on known Group of Seven painted vistas within the region, speaking with locals, experts, art galleries, and academics.
 
Members of SOAR and WiCON were invited to participate in the CHIA, however in spite of claiming to have additional knowledge of Group of Seven resources, they have refused to cooperate or share this knowledge. 

Fortunately other, non-partisan experts who have devoted years to studying the Group of Seven were forthcoming and very helpful when we approached them about our study.
 
We undertook significant efforts to conduct a thorough CHIA, ultimately completing a robust assessment to the satisfaction of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport.  

The complete CHIA along with computer simulated photographs of what the project will look like from various vantage points has been publicly presented and published. 

We encourage those interested to go to the project website.
 
We are also concerned about WiCON’s lack of acknowledgment and respect for the other cultural histories here, one of which reaches back 1,000s of years before the Group of Seven set foot in the area.

The Batchewana First Nation have been living on and caring for this land for generations.

The Nation conducted its own evaluation to ensure the project respects its cultural and spiritual heritage. 

Only after this evaluation did the Batchewana First Nation partner with Bow Lake Wind to form the Nodin Kitagan Limited Partnerships, the first of their kind for a wind power project like this.
 
We believe responsible wind power development involves careful selection of the project site.

This project site was chosen not only for its wind resource, but also because of its past and ongoing industrial activity and use.

The project is proposed in an area adjacent to existing transmission lines, built years ago to accommodate significant hydroelectric development. 

The majority of the project area is managed under a Sustainable Forest Licence, and there are current and historic mining claims throughout the region. 

The project will use these existing roads and transmission lines, with a small additional footprint, and will not preclude the use, development, or recreational or cultural enjoyment of the area by others.

The addition of the project is entirely compatible with the use of the many other public and Aboriginal resources at the site (forestry, mineral, energy, recreation, and spiritual), all of which create local jobs and contribute to the well-being of local communities. 
 
We stand proud of the work we have jointly completed to responsibly design and develop this wind power opportunity for the region.

We encourage open discussion and input on our project, but we do ask that groups such as WiCON and SOAR seek to provide a more balanced assessment based upon the facts and participate sincerely in the consultation and effects assessment processes.
 
If SOAR and WiCON really care about the area’s cultural heritage, they should take us up on our offer to meet so that we could practically and factually discuss their issues.
 
- The Bow Lake Wind Project

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